Braeburn stepped off the colorful train, a few saddlebags packed very modestly. He was like his cousin Applejack in that regard: don’t pack anything you weren’t prepared to lose. With nothing but the essentials weighing him down, Braeburn trotted around Ponyville with wide eyes and a wider smile. Relative to Appleoosa, Ponyville seemed like a large, fancy city with its boutiques and fancy restaurants.
A rush of wind blew past Braeburn, knocking his Stetson from his head, and was that…. pink? Braeburn shook his head to clear his thoughts. He turned around to make sure he didn’t miss anything before chuckling at himself. The long train ride did leave him a might puckish and a nice cold drink sure would wet the whistle.
Turning back around, Braeburn was met by two blue eyes that lit up from excitement. They belonged to a pink pony with an abnormally curly mane and tail.
“Well hi! Welcome to Ponyville! I haven’t seen you here before and if I haven’t seen you here before that must mean you’re new! And if you’re new then I get to welcome you!” The pink pony pranced around Braeburn giggling with excitement. Braeburn felt a flush at his face from the suddenness and forwardness of her welcome, or maybe it was just the dehydration. Either way, he wasn’t used to being greeted the same way he’d greet new ponies in Appleoosa.
“Oh my gosh! You must be Applejack’s cousin! She said you were coming today to help with the orchard for an entire week, maybe more if you wanted to sight see! I remember you from the buffalo stampede. Do you remember me? Do you do you do you?”
Pinkie Pie was brow to brow with Braeburn, giving him the most excited look he had ever seen. Pinkie’s eccentric personality had left him dumbstruck; he had never met a pony as forward and hyper as himself. Darn tootin’, she’s even more hyper than mah’self.
“Ah reckon ah do remember ya’ll on that fine day. Ya sang that silly little song in that purple and black getup didn’t ya?”
Pinkie’s smile shattered into a frown, and her demeanor became somber. Looking at Braeburn with sad eyes, she replied,
“It wasn’t that bad, was it? I was just trying to help everypony get along because I think everypony should get along and when ponies are fighting it makes me sad and when I’m sad I want to be happy and when- urmph!”
Braeburn held a hoof to her muzzle, putting an end to her run-on sentence.
“Now ah didn’t say silly was a bad thing, now did ah? Ya sure did put a smile on mah face that day.”
Pinkie released her muzzle from Braeburn’s hoof, smiling wider than ever.
“I did?! Well that’s just super duper awesome! I love making ponies smile. It’s what I do and I’m really happy knowing I made you smile too! Say! Why don’t you come to Sugarcube Corner! That must have been a long train ride and I’d want snacks and stuff if I was cooped up for that long. Appleoosa is far!”
“Well ah reckon that’d be just swell, Miss Pie.” Braeburn tipped off his hat and gave a small bow.
“Hehehehehe *snort* eheheheh.” Pinkie was giggling uncontrollably on the ground. After a few seconds to catch her breathe she responded, “Silly Braeburn! Just call me Pinkie. It’s what all my friends call me, and I love making friends!”
Blushing slightly at his southern formality, Braeburn let loose a soft laugh. Pinkie stood up and was in his face with a wide grin.
“And I absolutely love making my friends laugh! Laughing is my specialty- come on! Let’s go to Sugarcube Corner and laugh together some more!”
Pinkie didn’t give Braeburn time to respond as she grabbed him by the hoof and galloped towards Sugarcube Corner. Braeburn was astounded by Pinkie’s dexterity; she avoided everypony and every object on the way there. She certainly does have a talent for gettin' from point A to B, that’s for sure.
The dinging of the bells echoed throughout the bakery as Pinkie Pie led Braeburn in.
“Well hello there dearies,” Mrs. Cake welcomed. She gasped when she saw the stranger that accompanied Pinkie Pie.
“Well hiya Mrs. Cake!” Pinkie said. Mrs. Cake grinned from ear to ear; she never thought this day would come. Pinkie Pie, holding a handsome stallion’s hoof with such a cheerful disposition. Well, Pinkie Pie always had a cheerful disposition, but it wasn’t everyday that she waltzed around while holding a handsome stallion’s hoof.
“Ooooooh, one second dearies. Gotta go see if the husband needs any help. Now don’t mind me, just take a seat and look around and pick something that looks nice. It’s on the house this time.”
Mrs. Cake sidestepped toward the back. Out of view from the customers, she rushed to go find her husband and tell him the news, or show him if he didn’t believe her. Pinkie Pie closed her eyes and smiled, content to sit there until the Cakes returned. Braeburn looked around wide-eyed. He had never seen so many tasty looking vittles in all his life. The choices were endless and each dessert seemed to look even more delicious than the last. Pinkie noticed the stallion’s head turning rapidly as he tried to decide. Clutching his head between her hooves, she giggled.
“Silly Braeburn! You’ll hurt your neck spinning around like that; I almost did when I was watching Rainbow Dash fly through the sky! She was so dazzling it was unbelievable!”
Braeburn blushed from the sudden contact before retracting himself. Clearing his throat, he responded,
“Ah do apologize Pinkie. It’s just all them vittles look even better than the last. How can ya even begin to decide what tah order?”
“That’s easy peasy lemon squeezey! Well the lemon squeezes are good, but everything here is good! But I LOVE the cupcakes here the best. Those are Mrs. Cake’s specialty, and she’s even taught me some of her secrets. I love working here!”
“Ya work in this tastin’ plantation?” Braeburn asked, amazed that Pinkie could be so fortunate.
“Sure do! I bake, sell baked goods, babysit the baby twin Cakes- oh they’re so much fun Braeburn! I basically learn everything there is to do around here! Oh! You said you were thirsty right! The ice cream floats are super duper!”
“Well ah reckon ah’ll take your word for it,” Braeburn responded.
Mrs. Cake returned with Mr. Cake in tow, a skeptical look on his face. The skepticism turned into shock. Sweet apple buns, she was right! Pinkie Pie, oh how she’s growing up. Handling the twins and now this!
The couple approached Pinkie and Braeburn at the table, both wearing large, smiles that showed they were expecting something.
“Have you two decided on what you’d like to have, hmmmm?” Mr. Cake asked, his tone heavily implying something that went over Pinkie Pie’s head. Braeburn immediately caught on and turned bright scarlet.
“Why yes we have Mr. Cake!” Pinkie replied, her voice reflecting her bubbliness and obliviousness to the situation. “We’d like the variety cupcakes and two root beer floats. The floats would be greatly appreciated. Braeburn here hasn’t had anything to drink since he got on the train. I mean look at him! He’s bright red from thirst!”
“Coming right up dearies!” Mrs. Cake half-sang. Pinkie watched her with a smile. Well she’s in a super mood today! Business must be booming!
Mr. Cake looked at the two ponies, fumbling his words as he tried to ask awkward questions with confidence.
“Well then, when did you two meet?”
Braeburn’s flush reappeared, not going unnoticed by Pinkie Pie.
“Oh, we met awhile ago in Appleoosa. Braeburn is Applejack’s cousin. He’s visiting Ponyville for awhile to help with the farm work, and then it’s back on the train to Appleoosa. Or as Twilight told me, Aaaaaaappleoosa.” Pinkie Pie’s laughter was joined by Braeburn’s. Her impersonation had been spot on, and he wasn’t the type of pony to get sore over being poked fun of.
Mr. Cake watched the two ponies with an endearing look. Pinkie Pie stopped laughing and spoke up. “Speaking of train rides, Braeburn here must be completely super thirsty! Mr. Cake, could he have a glass of water while we wait?”
“Oh that won’t be necessary dearie!” Mrs. Cake called out. She trotted up to their table, a platter balanced perfectly on her back. On the platter was a large glass filled with several scoops of vanilla ice cream and enough soda to leave the perfect amount of foam. Two straws stuck from the tasty masterpiece. The glass was surrounded by a variety of cupcakes, ranging from strawberry to mint and every flavor in between. Placing the tray on the table, Mrs. Cake grabbed Mr. Cake by the hoof and led him to the back of Sugarcube Corner.
“We’ll leave you two alone now, and make sure to enjoy!”
“We will Mrs. Cake, and thanks a bunch!”
“Well now Miss Pie, ah really can’t thank you enough for the warm welcome you done shown me.” Braeburn said, a rosy tint lingering in his cheeks.
“Silly Braeburn, I told you before! Pinkie or Pinkie Pie will do just fine! And I already told you, I LOVE welcoming ponies to ponyville. Now drink up, your cheeks are still red and we don’t want you getting dehydrated. Could you imagine? Dehydrated next to such a tasty looking float... well that’s weird.” Pinkie said, her voice sounding as if she had reached a gap in logic. “Why is there only one big float? I could’ve sworn I asked for two.”
“Well ah reckon…” Braeburn paused, his response lacking confidence. Pinkie looked at him inquisitively. “Well that is to say, we could share this here float. It is quite a hefty size and would be plenty for the both of us. I aint sick or nothing. Ah promise.” Braeburn leaned forward and took a sip from the float, his eyes lighting up as the flavor hit him.
“Ooh that looks like it must be tasty if your face could get that happy. Of course I’ll share!” Pinkie leaned forward, taking a sip. She then let loose a burp powered by the carbonation. Making eye contact with Braeburn, they both let loose their laughter and continued their pleasantries over cupcakes and soda.