Anthony took an alternate rout home to get a better feel for the town. It took a little longer than he wanted but he thought it was better to learn the layout sooner rather than later.He arrived at his front door a bit before the sun made it to dusk and was taken a bit off as it seemed someone had closed his window shutters while he was away. He decides to ignore it chalking one up for simple ignorance and made his way in.
It was unexpectedly dark as he opened the door the only light coming from the setting sun behind him as he entered. It took a moment to get his hands on the light switch to turn it on. The instant it did he was met with a massive pair of blue eyes staring into his own obstructing all else in the room. The pink mare they belonged to sparked a smile from her bat style perch and shouted point blank in his face "Surprise!" the sudden shock sent Anthony to the ground as a multitude of other pony sprang from their hiding places with the same greeting.
No longer blinded by a face-full of pink he got a look at the room absolutely overtaken by party decorations, snack-foods and ponies as much as the room could fill with out overflow. As he looked around his almost unrecognizable living room the mare from his ceiling dropped down to meet him upright "You were surprised, right? That one always gets every pony." The pink pony said as she dropped down. upon landing she was hit with a dizzy spell from being upside-down too long " Ooo pretty colors." she wobbled as a new purple alicorn made approach.
"I think you may have over done it a little, pinkie." the alicorn stated assisting Anthony to his feet with her magic "I'm sorry about that. Pinkie pie can get a little carried away when she's throwing a party for someone." she said turning to Anthony.
"What's with this set up?" AJ asked dusting himself off.
"It's your welcome party. Duh. See?" Pinkie said referring the young man's attention to the 'welcome party' banner in plan view.
Just then a familiar face finally presented itself. "I do apologize for the intrusion, dear. When I went too Pinkie to see if she could get this party set up I intended to inform you, however she insisted it be a surprise." Rarity apologized.
"Well. no harm, no foul" AJ shrugged "At least no one is staring."
"Right..." Rarity neglected to mention the little disclaimer she gave before his arrival.
"So why the party?"
"I thought that you deserved a proper reception to Ponyville, and what better way to get you acquainted with the townspeople." Rarity reasoned.
Suddenly Pinkie pie popped up behind Anthony and started pushing him toward the designated dance floor "Don't just stand around like a lump. It's a party. Dance!"
"Oh-nonono!" Anthony jolted peeling away from the pink party planner to avoid the crowd. "Uh-uh I do not dance." He said holding his hands out in disagreement " I can't dance. I'm no good."
"Hmm..." Pinkie hummed tapping her chin; pondering the problem she came up with the best idea "I know!" she smiled " You and Twilight should dance together." she proclaimed with and ecstatic grin. Anthony and Twilight exchanged a confused look before turning to pinkie with a baffled 'what?'. Pinkie follows with "If you two dance together then you'll both look better than you actually are. It makes perfect since." she nodded
"Wow. Thanks for that, Pinkie." Twilight deadpanned
"You're welcome." The oblivious party pony beamed "Now you get out there you crazy kids!" Pinkie said shoving the unwilling pair into the thick of the dancing ponies.
Anthony looked at his fellow party hostage "Wanna go to the snack table?" Twilight agrees and they each pull up a folding chair and sit along the table where a fairly large assortment of snack foods were gathered with three of pinkie's most famous flavors of punch. It wasn't crowded like the floor due to the party having only began but it did have a bit of attention from passerby's.
"So, Anthony, what do you like to do?" Twilight asked levitating over two multi-color cupcakes with sprinkles.
"Hmm... I guess I mostly just like to read. I never really found much interest in the usual stuff people like, like sports. I cook... but that's more of a 'I do it or starve' thing." Anthony shrugged glancing down at the pastry "No thanks." he said politely pushing the snack away "I prefer muffins."
"Alright then." Twilight shrugged ion return "By the way I've never seen something like you before. What are you? Where are you from?"
"I'm human. As for where, it's hard to say. My family moved around a lot until I was ten; when my mom got a stationary job. I guess I'm from Equestria if you want to be technical." Anthony explained before leaning toward Twilight with an inquiry " Hey, Are you a princess, too?"
"Too? You mean you've already met the other princesses?" She asked receiving a nod.
"Yeah. Celestia is actually the one that helped me move here. And the other one... Luna. She stole my DS." He said as if completely unfazed.
Just as Twilight was about to comment Pinkie appears out of nowhere " It's time for party games!" she sang draging Anthony by his shirt with a hoof walking on two legs. "Since it's your party you get first shoot at the everything." Pinkie smiles. Not given a choice Anthony simply went along with the rest of the party as Pinkie planned.