Brotherly Bonding Time

by Sketcha-Holic

5.1--Another Town, Another Party

After spending the night in Nickerlite, Cheese got a signal to go to some town on Equestria's east coast named Halterside. He had never heard of the place before, and he wasn't sure that very many ponies did either. But, he had been to plenty of towns that nopony really knew about, and those were some of the easier parties he had thrown.

But the Cheesy Sense also told him that the party that was being planned was in a couple of days. Since it was going to take too long to get there by hoof, he and Tomato had to take the train. So, they said goodbye to the Nickerlite residents, and boarded the train to Halterside.

The train chugged along through the grasslands, the hills, and the mountains, passing by towns and cities at high speed. Outside the windows, passengers could see brief glimpses of everyday life of not only other ponies, but various other creatures as well. Many shades of green zoomed past under the cool twilight sky, dotted with fluffy clouds. Cheese heard the other passengers murmur about what shapes they could see in the clouds. He heard "sheep", "dragon", "flowers", "a laughing face", and many others.

Looking outside up in the sky, he could see an entirely different shape from the others--except for the laughing face. The face, however, was attached to the body of a rearing pony. The head and rear were adorned with a fluffy mane and tail, and the muzzle resembled that of a mare. He could barely make out the cutie mark, and in his head, her sweet voice rang loud and clear in a bell-like melody. Staring at the cloud, he sighed happily. He glanced at Tomato, wanting to ask him what shape he saw in the clouds, but he frowned upon seeing him with his nose in a book.

He inwardly groaned. He tilted his head to see what Tomato was reading, finding that it was that copy of "The Count of Pony Cresto" that Bluejinx lent him. He didn't quite know what was so exciting about some count, but then, who was he to judge a book by its cover?

He pursed his lips, and put a hoof to his chin in thought. A long time ago, Tomato was the little energetic runt that barely had any time for reading, and was more into loud and active play. With that in mind, he wondered how he ended up becoming such a bookworm. Though if he had to guess, he was probably nagged into it.

He turned back to the window, and whined when he found that the cloud's head had floated away.

That caught Tomato's attention. "What?"

Cheese pointed out the window, pouting. "Pinkie lost her head."

Tomato leaned to the window to see what he was talking about. With a bored expression, he said, "That cloud looks unremarkable."

Cheese crossed his forelegs. "It looked like Pinkie five minutes ago. And now it looks like the headless horse."

Tomato straight back up, and turned the page of his book. "I don't see it. You've lost your mind."

Cheese sighed and got back to looking out the window. ""Gee, lacking imagination, aren't you?"

"Hey, I get pictures in my head when I read--that requires at least some imagination."

Cheese snickered. "I still have more. Now, who was the one who came up with the cowspies? Or Dr. Sauerkraut? Oooor, who's the one who plans the parties? Like I've said, I never plan them by the book, and this next town's going to be in for a nice surprise once we arrive."

Tomato rolled his eyes and focused on the book. "Brag of your creativity all you want. Pray that I don't have to fill in for you at some point."

---

The pair stepped off the train, and took a deep whiff of the morning air. The smell of the sea air was much more pleasant than that of Manehattan, though it helped that Halterside was clearly one of those small towns that was well-kept and clean. Houses of various shapes and sizes were lining the cobblestone streets, and smiling ponies were trotting the streets and chatting with neighbors.

"'Kay, we're here..." Tomato said. "Now what?"

"We locate the party site, and then just go from there," Cheese answered.

"...great."

The two trotted on forward. As they made their way down the street, several ponies turned and curiously gazed at the two ponies in cowpony getup. Tomato could hear a few snickering, and some foals were loudly asking about the two strange ponies. Tomato huddled close to Cheese, the stares from the townsponies seemingly mocking him. He glanced at Cheese, who was clearly ignoring the stares and more focused on finding the party site, and wondered how he could stand having all those eyes on him.

Strange to think that this is the pony who used to be painfully shy, he thought. How did he overcome that?

Suddenly, he tripped on a rock, and would have fallen face first on the street had Cheese not noticed and grabbed the serape just before Tomato's muzzle even touched one of the rocks. Cheese straightened him back up, patted his head, and continued walking. Tomato blinked, looked around at some giggling mares, and then sheepishly shuffled back to Cheese's side.

"Geez, do they really need to stare? They're giving me the creeps," Tomato grumbled.

Cheese chuckled. "It comes with wearing the costumes, baby bro. At least... if they're not distracted by something weirder."

"Like an alligator crawling out of the sewer?"

"Something like that."

That was when Cheese froze and blinked. He lifted a hoof and muttered, "Hold on..." Pursing his lips, he held still right in the middle of the street, twitching his ears as if he was receiving some kind of signal. Tomato and the onlookers gaped confusedly as he held a scrunchy face, and he seemed completely oblivious to Tomato waving his hoof in front of his face.

Suddenly, he jumped and he landed on his four hooves and pointed forward with his muzzle. "Fellow party pony at 12:00!" He turned to Tomato. "Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that I can sense other party ponies."

Tomato raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't do this with Pinkie, because...?"

"At this point, I'm subconsciously drawn to her, like, it just happens without me noticing sometimes and--hey, wipe that smirk off your face, it's not like that!"

Tomato snickered. "I thought you liked smiles..."

Cheese pouted. "Not those kind." He turned around and started to head in the direction he pointed earlier. "Come on, we're going to find this fellow party pony so that this party can evolve from good to great! Because party pony collabs are a lot of fun!"

Tomato followed. "Ah, so how many have you done..." As Cheese opened his mouth to answer, Tomato added, "...without Pinkie?"

Cheese growled, and then sighed. "None... well, actually, I've worked with the great Ponyacci once, but that was a long time ago, when I was a colt and still learning the ropes. But... with Pinkie I've done quite a few." He stopped right there, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he glanced at the smug Tomato awaiting elaboration. He gulped, and then started to gallop. "Let's just find that party pony! Maybe he or she needs our help!"

Tomato blinked, and then sped off after him. "Cheese, wait up!"

---

"Goldie, be careful!"

The cream-coated, freckled mare looked down at her silver-coated brother from the roof of town hall. She rolled her eyes as she tied the water balloon to the streamer, and carefully placed it on the eaves. "Shilly, you're getting worked up again. Look, bro, I know what I'm doing."

Silver Shill sat on his haunches and tapped his hooves together. "You know the doctor said you shouldn't strain yourself. Are you sure you haven't bitten off more than you can chew with setting up Halterside Town Day?"

Comedy Gold tied another water balloon to another streamer. "Nope! I'm just ensuring that I don't get rusty!" She patted the balloon. "That oughta do it... hoo boy, I can't wait until these start falling and hitting ponies. Perfect for cooling off in the heat!"

She looked up the street, and saw a couple of lanky stallions galloping toward them. Focusing her eyes and adjusting her glasses, she called out, "Look, Shilly, we've got strangers in town!"

Silver Shill blinked and turned around just as the two stallions skidded to a stop in front of him, startling him and making him stumble backwards into a tripwire. The wire set off one of Comedy Gold's balloon streamers, and a water balloon landed and exploded on his head, leaving him a soaking wet stallion. He looked up and pouted at his sister.

Goldie giggled. "Thanks for testing my water balloon streamer attack! And don't pout, that's how you got that underbite." She grabbed the streamer and pulled it back up to tie another water balloon on it.

Silver Shill sighed, and turned to the two noticably taller stallions in front of him. "Can I help you two?"

The lighter orange one stepped forward, and said in a gruff voice, "I got word that there's a party in this here town."

Silver rubbed the back of his head. "Well, uh... yeah, it's Halterside Town Day. My sister up there is still setting things up, so you might have to wait a bit before the carnival begins, sorry."

The stranger chuckled. "Oh, I'm not here just to have fun at a party..."

Silver blinked. "You aren't?"

The stranger threw off his cowpony attire, revealing a yellow polo shirt and a curly brown mane. "Nope! I'm here to help set things up!" He shot out a hoof and shook Silver Shill's vigorously. "The name's Cheese Sandwich, the premier party planner in all of Equestria!" Cheese gestured to the reddish stallion. "This guy's my brother, Tomato. He's here because I'm spending some quality time with my baby bro."

Tomato rolled his eyes, and slipped out of his serape and hat, revealing more businesslike attire. "It's been an interesting summer so far."

Cheese let go of Silver Shill's hoof, and the shorter stallion blinked before he smiled. "A party planner, eh?" Then he called up to Goldie, "Hey! This guy's here to help! You don't have to do this entire thing by yourself!"

Goldie leaned from her spot on the roof and scowled. "I heard. And frankly, I don't appreciate it. Because, really, why do you keep insisting that I can't set up the carnival by myself, Shilly? Let's not forget I earned my cutie mark saving the school carnival, and if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have earned yours!"

Silver rubbed his temples. "Goldie, we've been through this. It's not that I don't think that you're not capable, it's just you're still recovering from surgery, and I'm worried about you straining yourself too hard. Please just let our visitors here help... in fact, I think I read about this Cheese Sandwich in the newspaper once... he must know what he's doing..."

Goldie huffed. "Why doesn't he strike a bigger town like Baltimare, instead of stepping on my turf?"

Cheese shook his head and clicked his tongue. "Sorry, Miss, but my Cheesy Sense pulled me here, and I can't leave until an epic party has been planned."

Goldie glared daggers at him, and then jumped off the roof of the town hall. She then took off the pink polka-dotted and teal cloak she wore and used it as a parachute. Her barrel was wrapped up in bandages. She drifted down gently and landed gracefully on the path, her strawberry-blonde curls bouncing under the bandanna matching her cloak. Even so, there was clearly a pain-filled wince on her face.

As she tied her cloak back on, she said, "I'll have you know, Mr. Cheese Sandwich, that despite my brother trying to baby me, that I've been setting up celebrations since I was a little filly. Heck, I'm pretty much famous in this town for beating the official town event planners time and time again."

Silver Shill gave her half-lidded eyes. "You got in trouble."

"Ah, but the mayor has trusted me to plan this year's party, no? Not some outsider waltzing into town dressed like a cowpony!"

That was when an older, cobalt blue mare trotted out of the doors of town hall, then stopped at the sight of the other ponies with Silver Shill and Comedy Gold. Blinking, she asked, "Hello, Comedy Gold, I assume that the preparations are going as planned?"

"Uh, yes, Mayor Azure! Oh, wait a minute!" She pulled a bridge from behind her back, which would have hit the stallions had they not ducked. She set it over the stairs and where some tripwires crossed. When she finished positioning it, she called out, "Okay, cross! I don't want you setting the tripwires off before the celebration starts!"

A puzzled Mayor Azure crossed the bridge, asking, "Tripwires...?"

When she finished crossing, she turned around, and looked up and down the building, spotting the shine of some of the tripwires, and the streamers and balloons. She sighed. "Why did you set this up?"

"It's gonna be hot today! Nothing like water balloons for a nice cooldown!" Goldie answered. "I was going to put them on every building, just so you know."

Mayor Azure looked around, and noticed the barebones plaza. "Miss Gold, you're usually faster than this! What is the reason that the carnival's not all set up?"

Silver Shill stepped forward. "She's still recovering from her surgery, so she's not up to par."

The mayor looked at him with a sour expression. "And why didn't you inform me of this earlier?"

"You girls kept interrupting me!"

Mayor Azure sighed. "Miss Gold, if we want this carnival set up by nine o'clock, we can't go by your usual method of... whatever magic it is that helps you set this all up by yourself and yet still have energy to keep on entertaining the ponies. You'll have to have assistance from other ponies besides your brother. In fact, I see he's already got a couple others along for the ride."

Her eyes bugged out at the sight of Cheese. "Silver Shill, how did you get that pony here? Isn't he the Super Duper Party Pony?"

Cheese chuckled. "Well, actually, my Cheesy Sense told me to come here. Normally, towns with party ponies of their own don't need me, but if it's a big celebration, or a party for the party pony--or in this case, the local party pony not up to par--then I'll be there!"

Mayor Azure clapped. "Oh, good! You'll be plenty of assistance, Mr. Sandwich." She looked at Tomato. "As well as that red guy with you... pray tell, what is your name?"

"Tomato Sandwich."

Cheese pulled him close and grinned. "He's my baby brother."

Ignoring Tomato's scowl, the Mayor chuckled and said, "Well, Tomato, you must be really lucky to have such a wonderful older brother. I can't imagine the swell birthday parties he has thrown for you every year! Hm, I wish my brother was as good as yours."

Tomato sighed. "Yeah, brother of the century."

Goldie groaned. "Mayor, I don't need any help! I can set this entire thing up on my own, I've done it before!"

Silver put a hoof on Goldie's shoulder. "You need to slow down and take it easy, and just do the small things that don't require too much effort. I don't want you getting hurt."

She snorted. "Will you quit babying me?"

"I'm not babying you..." Silver tapped his chin. "Did you remember your pain medication?"

Goldie groaned, and she stormed away, presumably to fetch the medication she left at home. The others stared as she trotted off, and then looked at Silver Shill.

He sighed, and said, "Sorry about how she's acting, especially towards you, Cheese. She's the baby of our family, and well, she's always trying to assert her independence. I just wish she'd let go of the stubbornness while she's still in recovery--it worries me."

Cheese sighed. "Yeah, younger siblings tend to worry you sometimes--Tommy here used to get into some crazy situations that I had to rescue him from."

"Don't remind me," Tomato said.

Cheese clapped. "Anyway... where shall we start?"

Author's Note:

AUGH, THIS TOOK TOO LONG TO WRITE.

Yeah, so after about three weeks--because of my FIMfiction anniversary drabbles and the season 5 premiere and a Party Favor oneshot coming and other stuff that needed attending to, plus a little bit of writer's block--we finally move on to the next town! And it's another I completely made up, being the hometown of a character that no one really cares for... besides me for some reason. I don't know why I like Silver Shill...

Also, stubborn little party pony sister is stubborn. Goldie, listen to your brother.

Comments

[SageBrony07]

Cheese and Tommy can learn a thing or two in this town. Especially with a brother and sister. Great job. I can't wait for the next chapter.

[ChaoticKindness]

Hallelujah, another chapter!
I loved how you included Comedy Gold in this chapter; it ties in nicely with the drabble you made about Silver Shill in your oneshot series. And, good grief, I'm looking forward to that Party Favor oneshot!

[FanOfMostEverything]

Sighing longingly as he sees her in the clouds. Yup, totally Platonic friendship here, folks.

--or in this case, the local party pony not up to par--

Ouch. I see Cheese's sticking his hoof in his mouth isn't limited to comments about Tommy.

Good to see more of Silver Shill in any capacity, and that his sister is doing well. Definitely looking forward to what you have planned in this town.

[howard035]

I like this, a new town with a combination of some background ponies and OCs. Also, looks like Comedy Gold and Cheese Sandwich are going to butt heads. I think there's only one way to settle this...

Goof Off at high noon! Pies at 30 paces! Go for your party cannon!

[Godslittleprincess]

Tomato rolled his eyes and focused on the book. "Brag of your creativity all you want. Pray that I don't have to fill in for you at some point."

He should not have said that out loud.