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// Part: One - Dark Planner 
// Story: Dark Party 
// by AviatorShade 
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	It was such a lovely day. The sun was shimmering, burning through the Autumn air. The sun shined through the window of Pinkie's Cottage and awoke Shade. Shade had no where to go after arriving to Ponyville one fateful night. It had been months since his Arrival. Pinkie had welcomed him into her cottage knowing he was an outsider, but she is always expecting a new friend. It had lead to moments of awkwardness. But it all worked out, he even has feelings for this very pony. The shine of the light hit his sight, “ Awh, Hell, The sun.” 
Shade finally awoke and all his mind went to was: Where's Pinkie? 
He removed himself from the bed in which he shared with her. She would not let him sleep on the couch. All she could say with a smile and a snicker was, “Oh, silly, the couch is for Gummy! You can share the bed with me.” He was shy at first with a standard blush, but then he pulled through because he knew now that all he wanted was to be by her side.
He turned his gaze and say the calender that laid on the side table, near the bed, next to the mirror and saw the date: August 29th. It's the day of Pinkie's largest party. Just one question comes to Shade's mind: Why was I left asleep when I was helping with the plans? But Party Planning wasn't the only job Shade took role in. He helped with labor on Sweet Apple Acres, modeled for Rarity's 'Manehatten Business Stallion Wear', and sometimes babysat with Fluttershy. 
He threw on his clothes which were a very fashionable vest and tie and went out to search for Pinkie. He thought the first location to look would be Mr. and Ms. Cake's shop, Sugarcube Corner. That is the happening place of Ponyville's very own Pinkie. Strolling around town was relaxing for any pony but today was different. The excitement was overwhelming and a smile couldn't be helped. On his way to Sugarcube Corner, Shade said some greets to some ponies as they passed like Bon Bon, Lyra, and Twilight, and sadly none knew of Pinkie's whereabouts. 
Shade entered Sugarcube Corner. He saw this colorful paradise and the many sugary sweets that laid before him. The wooden architecture was homey with a side of western saloon. All the columns that held structure to this place twisted up and were painted like a  Candy Cane midway. The floor was a wooden, blue finish and held many floor mats of multiple shades of green. These key aspects always stood out to him. 
Before he could further admire the elegance of this homey scenario, he was called on by Mr. Cake, “Hey, Shade, aren't you usually here with Pinkie when you come in?”
“Yea, Sir, that's why I'm here exactly,” Shade uttered with a hint of shyness.
“Oh yea, she actually stopped by earlier, I think. Honey! Shade, here, wants to know where pinkie is!” Mr. Cake got the attention of his wife. 
“Oh dear, she was actually in here earlier, but all I heard her mention was that she was going to see Apple Jack. Supposedly its time to harvest the apples,” Ms Cake said scratching her head with her hoof. 
“I'm sorry but I have to go,” Shade said as he started to back up out of Sugarcube Corner.
“Okay, see yea later,” said both Mr. and Ms. Cake as Shade was halfway out the door. 
Pinkie was heading to Sweet Apple Acres and now Shade was on his way. He just wondered why was she going there. Wasn't she supposed to be planning a party? Or was this a part of a greater scheme in planning this party? He was about to find out.
Sweet Apple Acres was as luscious as ever. The trees were all full of ripe apples. It was Applebucking Season and the apples were ready to be harvested. Applejack was already in the fields bucking the trees. Many apples already filled her many pales.
Shade entered through the arch that welcomed every pony to this country paradise. The arch was wrapped in decorations that made it look like an apple tree. The arch also held a sign that showed a hole in the shape of an apple indicating that it was owned by the Apple Family. A white fence circled the farm. It wrapped around the the corn, beat, and carrot fields and the Chicken Coop, but ended at another arch at the beginning of the orchards. There is another white fence that showed the front yard of the house. A stone path lead to the front door of the Apple home. 
He approached the arch that lead to the orchards. Applejack was already breaking that afternoon sweat. The sweat poured down her orange body as she pulled of her cowgirl hat and wiped it away. Shade noticed her first and tried to get her attention. 
“Hey, Applejack!”
“Howdy, partner, What brings you to my neck of the woods?” Applejack said in her southern accent.
“Well, Applejack, I'm looking for Pi-” Before he finished he heard a faint laughter. Where? It wasn't Applejack; her mouth wasn't open. 
“You okay there, partner?” She was concerned of his sudden pause of silence.
“Awe..Y-yes, I'm fine. Did you hear that?” he said wondering if it was just him going crazy.
“I'mma sorry, I didn't hear a peep besides you and me,” she shook her head. 
“Then nevermind. Have you seen Pinkie?” He asked because he was starting to just get worried. 
“Actually, she was here before. But that girl was buggier than a Parasprite not eating on my farm. She didn't even seem all there, but that's just because I probably been working to hard and her as well. I hope the party's ready,” she said with a concerned confusion.
Pinkie's had her down days but on a day like this.. Never!
“Where did she run to, Applejack?!” Shade was concerned deeply now, and that laughter earlier still rung in his head. 
“Keep your horses on, Shade, she was heading back home. Something about a surprise, but that's all I got,” Applejack finished believing Pinkie was fine.
Aviator Shade knew better. There were ponies after him and things are never as they seem. Something could really be wrong with Pinkie. Paranoia set in and he was now set on finding Pinkie. When he arrived at Pinkie's Cottage. He searched the premises. Then there it was again ..a laughter but more clear now than before. It was deep; not of a girl, and it was coming from the front door. He headed back outside and saw a peculiar sight. A lonely, eery balloon floated by. A balloon of bright pink floated perfectly straight. He followed the balloon with best judgement even though such a judgement is foolish. 
After tailing the balloon some, the laughter continued again. It got clearer as he arrived to the Everfree Forest. The balloon went right into the trees. “Okay, this is so not creepy,” he said with a sarcastic tone. The entrance he was about to enter was dark and the sun started to set. The day flew by. This entrance screamed nostalgia for him. He would get a weird sense of joy out of scary things. Shade entered with no warned caution for he ignore all the eery aspects. Darkness swelled around him. There was no light at the end of this path. He was going in blindly. 
“She waits for you.” Out of nowhere a deep and unfamiliar voice, like the laughter before, spoke. 
Then in the distance, finally, a sense of salvation. A light twinkled in the distance. He arrived to a cleared out area surrounded by the woods. And what stood in the center was a table with lit candles and at that very table was Pinkie.