Birthday Bios: Balloon Buddy · 2:56pm Mar 29th, 2016
If they had planes in Equestria, Buddy here would be all over them. Anything to get into the air!
In case anyone’s confused, no, he doesn’t wear glasses—he just needs eyegear when up in his balloon because, you know, weather. Must be a windy day there.
Anyway, let’s go over his story.
Born in Our Town to Sugar Belle and Party Favor, Balloon Buddy was a baby that didn’t like to be left on the ground. Put him on the floor for a second, and he’d start crying and having his magic spurts. Since his mother was busy in her café, it was usually his father who’d be carrying him around town, happily showing his neighbors his son. Once, when tired of carrying Buddy, Party Favor simply floated him with some balloons, and towed him around with a leash. Buddy loved it; Sugar Belle did not.
Sometimes, when both parents were busy, they’d call upon friends to babysit Buddy. Honorary uncle Double Diamond was a very competent caretaker (having three younger siblings), though he was often busy himself. Honorary aunt Night Glider was the fun one, and she often took him on flights (that he really enjoyed) while carrying him in his foal carrier.
As he grew older, he didn’t like that his parents carried him less and less (for good reason; he was getting heavier). When his sister Bubblegum was born, he was jealous that she could be carried around all the time (though she preferred not to be) and he wasn’t anymore. When he started school, he was told in no uncertain terms that he had to walk. After the classic five-year-old’s tantrum, he accepted his fate.
He was praised for being a bright and curious soul, to the point of having various adventures wherever he went. Double Diamond liked to take him hiking in the mountains and tell him about everything there is to know about that niche, and even sometimes climbed to a good, high point overlooking the valley. Naturally, Buddy loved the view.
He always had a yearning to explore the wild blue yonder. Envying his Auntie Night Glider and his pegasus friends, he continuously wondered what it was like to fly. He studied any wings he came across, whether it’d be those of a Pegasus, a bird he somehow caught, or a dead insect. After drawing a bunch and taking lots of notes, he created his own wings out of cardboard, and jumped off the roof wearing them. The inevitable result was a broken leg.
But he did not give up, that stubborn colt. He continuously redesigned his wings and kept on climbing the roof to test them out. Some days, his sister tattled on him, and his father would come up to the roof by way of balloons and snatch him before he did anything. And even when he did manage to do a test, there was always an injury that gave him away to his parents.
After repeated instances of this that ended in broken bones, Party Favor and Sugar Belle discussed on what to do about Buddy’s hunger for flight. After weighing in some ideas from their friends, they decided on having him undergo some training for hot air balloon flight. While Buddy was unfortunately a little too young to have formal training, Party Favor decided on taking him on flights with his own aerostat made of party balloons to prime him for the eventual class—so long as he behaved.
So, after healing from his latest injury and finishing another round of grounding for being reckless, Buddy went on his first flight with his dad, with Night Glider towing the balloon around the area as the pair talked and enjoyed the view. Between Party Favor informing him that real hot air balloons worked differently from his mishmash of party balloons, to Buddy talking about what he learned in school, and both sharing jokes (and even telling them to their pegasus friend), father and son enjoyed their bonding time.
They went on flights enough that they were given goggles to shield their eyes. Buddy also received an aviator’s helmet and scarf for his birthday, given by Night Glider and Double Diamond respectively. And whenever they went, Sugar Belle always packed them a snack. Party Favor sometimes invited Bubblegum to come with, but seeing as she was afraid of heights, she always refused.
One day, Night Glider fell ill, and Party Favor wasn’t too keen on flying without her. However, he caved when Buddy poked and prodded him about going anyway, and they tried steering the balloon themselves. Unfortunately they flew off course, crashing into several things and popping balloons. As Party Favor continuously kept fixing the aerostat to keep them from a terrible crash on the ground, Buddy steered it away from other things as much as he could.
Thankfully, Buddy managed to get them back to town by nightfall, and the weary boys were greeted by a worried mother, sister, and friends. After agreeing not to go flying without Night Glider again, Buddy was happy to tell them that he managed to steer the balloon back home after they lost their way. He was doubly happy when Double Diamond pointed out that his cutie mark.
After a few more years of the routine of school, helping Mom with work, hanging out with friends, and flying in the balloon, teenage Buddy was finally old enough to take lessons from a professional in Albuckerque. With his paternal grandparents helping pay for it and Aunt Silk Shimmer agreeing to go and take care of Buddy between his lessons during those weeks, Buddy was soon off.
It took him a few years for him to obtain his commercial pilot license, mainly due to the age requirements of getting said license (18). Throughout his training, he has learned about official flight procedures, how to use navigation charts, more about weather and flying when weather ponies are about, and how to maintain his balloon. He also got a bit of first aid training between his periods of balloon instruction, since Silk Shimmer told him he might need it.
When all his instruction was done, he set off to explore Equestria. Enjoying his bird’s eye view of the land, he felt like it was the life. He landed in various cities and explored them, taking in all the sights and sounds of each one. Whether it’d be walking on a Applewood beach, taking a trip to Whinnyland, getting lost in Manehattan, or seeing natural wonders up close, he appreciated having the ability to have his own adventures.
He’s made sure to visit family, whether it be back home to visit his parents, or to Canterlot to visit his grandparents. They’re all very proud of him, though Sugar Belle is always checking him for any injuries and worrying about his safety. He bugs his little sister a little bit, but he’s willing to tell her about some things he’s learned in his adventures.
One place he didn’t expect himself to visit so much is Ponyville. His parents had a friend named Pinkie Pie who lived there, who he often describes as a fusion of his parents with a sugar rush. While he is friendly with Pinkie and her husband Cheese Sandwich, he’s found himself increasingly attracted to their daughter Fudge Fondue.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by the CheesePie family, with Fudge’s twin brother Pizza Pockets getting a bit protective of her, her younger siblings teasing them about it, and her parents being not-so-subtle about how much they approve of a potential relationship and treat Buddy as one of their own.
As for Buddy’s parents, there’s no doubt they’d approve too.
A very interesting glimpse of the future. A shame heavier-than-air flying machines in Equestria haven't developed beyond pedalothopters that may require earth ponies to operate. Still, Pinkie will probably get him in touch with Cherry Berry when she isn't playing matchmaker.