Neon Guard sat on top of the roof, looking at the many buildings of Ponyville as the sun set in the sky. The yellow sky had a few pegasi moving around as they moved some clouds. A few kites were in the sky, too. Laughter could be heard from the ponies running down the street. Neon Guard looked down. The ponies were chasing each other.
"How does he do it?" Neon Guard whispered. "He seems so calm when it comes to situations like this." He looked at his back. There was nopony nor was there any other changeling on the roof with him.
He turned back to see the sky.
Then, Neon Guard flew down towards the ground.
He landed on the ground.
Neon Guard looked around.
There were more ponies going around. They were walking and talking. On their faces were smiles and grins.
"And, there was this huge book that Twilight brought out!" a stallion passing by said to the mare beside him. "Twilight told me that it contained much of Equestria's history, and that she was going to show that to King Thorax soon."
"I wonder what that's going to be for, though," the mare said, looking at the stallion. "Thorax surely must've known some of Equestria's history."
"Clarification? I don't know about the book that much and why Thorax would need it."
"Do you want to go to the Princess and ask her yourself?" The mare smiled. "It would be a nice opportunity to see her as a Princess performing her royal duty."
"I guess we still have time," the stallion said, looking at the sky. He looked at the mare. "Let's go!"
Then, the two ponies turned around and trotted towards the castle.
"They always have something different," Neon Guard said. "Something that drives them to do things that just amazes the mind. I wish we could have that drive, too. The creativity that they have." He sighed. He looked around again.
The buildings were not that big. They were small and homely. Some lights were already on. Several ponies were sitting on tables, eating food while they talked; some laughed.
"My friends are all out on some cool trip to the Crystal Empire, and here I'm just waiting to guard Thorax. I guess it's still going to be fun—I'm going to talk with Thorax, after all." Neon Guard looked at the castle. "He's going to be over there, talking with Princess Twilight Sparkle about plans for the future. I've seen Thorax—he's also not so comfortable with the whole 'leading a kingdom' thing, too."
Neon Guard flew.
He passed by several buildings and several ponies. After a short while, he entered Sugarcube Corner.
The smell of delicious desserts filled the room and beckoned Neon Guard to approach the counter. Pinkie Pie was behind the counter, looking at him. "Neon Guard!" Pinkie yelled. "It's been a long time!"
"It hasn't been that long," Neon Guard answered. He looked around, seeing the ponies enjoying their sweet food before he turned to look back at Pinkie. "How's it all going, Pinkie?"
"Well, there's a lot of things going on!" Pinkie said while she gestured with a hoof. "Twilight is going to have a meeting with Thorax again—and I guess that that's the reason why you're here!"
Neon Guard nodded.
"But, let me tell you some things that you don't know! First, Rainbow Dash is going to be somewhere in Ponyville. Second, Fluttershy is going to be taking care of the animals. Third, Applejack is going to be at the farm later!"
"I think I already know that," Neon Guard said.
"What about I tell you something else?" Pinkie said. "That will get you to be doing, uh, something like, uh, eat this cake!" Pinkie brought out a cake and placed it on the counter. "It's a chocolate cake! It's just a chocolate cake—no special ingredients, although I consider every ingredient special—so, does that make this cake special or not? What about answering that question about the cake? Is it special or not?"
"I don't know."
"That's not a valid answer!" Pinkie yelled. "I want an answer that's either a yes or a no! Is this cake special or not?"
Neon Guard looked around. The ponies that were eating were now looking at him with concerned looks. He looked back at Pinkie. "Uh, I don't know."
"I know that you have an answer!" Pinkie shouted. "Don't be afraid to tell the answer, Neon Guard! It's the only way to free yourself from anxiety, from worrying all about the thoughts about whether this cake is special or not and why it is like that or not! I know that you can overcome the dread of answering! Please!"
"Uh, are you OK, Pinkie?"
"She's just Pinkie," a pony yelled out from the crowd.
"Uh, how am I supposed to be OK with that?"
"Just answer!" Pinkie shouted. "Is the cake in front of you a special cake or not?!"
"It's a special cake!"
Pinkie wiped the sweat off of her face and wiped the sweat off of Neon Guard's face. "Well, that was easy!" She smiled. "Now, do you want to buy this cake?"
"I don't know."
Pinkie sighed. "Well, that's alright. Maybe my shouting at you wasn't the best idea. I have other ideas!"
"Oh, no."
"Like, what about we try singing? I'm great at singing and everypony here is great at singing. Sometimes, we just sing!"
"But, I'm not a good singer, Pinkie. Now, I'll just take a simple dessert like maybe an apple pie and I'll just eat somewhere here."
"Aww, don't be like that, Neon Guard!" Pinkie said. "We're going to make you smile, whatever you're feeling!"
Neon Guard smiled. "That's great to know, Pinkie."
"Everypony!" Pinkie shouted. "He already smiled. Looks like we're not going to be throwing cakes at him!"
"What?!"
Pinkie laughed and placed a hoof on the counter. "Now, you're going to be guarding Thorax. What I want you to do is to guard Thorax with the best you have!"
"Thanks for the encouragement, Pinkie," Neon Guard said.
"Now, do you want to have some apple pie?"
"Didn't I already ask for that?"
Pinkie quickly grabbed an apple pie and placed it on the counter. "That would be a few bits, please?"
Neon Guard grabbed some bits and placed it on the counter. Pinkie hoofed the apple pie to Neon Guard.
Neon Guard walked away with an apple pie on his hoof.
"Enjoy your meal!" Pinkie yelled.
The changeling walked towards an empty table and sat on a chair. He placed the apple pie down on the table and looked at it. He looked at the ponies who were at their tables. They were talking and eating. Neon Guard sighed.
He looked at Pinkie Pie behind the counter.
A pony went to the counter.
Pinkie smiled and brought out a pie and placed it on the counter.
"Your usual, Cherry Fizzy!"
"Thanks, Pinkie!"
Then, the stallion went out of the bakery, holding the pie with his hoof.
"The ponies here are so friendly," Neon Guard said. "And, every time I go here, they're still friendly, always friendly. I still have to go to Thorax, though. Still have to guard him."
Neon Guard looked at the apple pie on the table. He looked at the ponies at the table and then at Pinkie. She was happy.
"At least Pinkie is here to cheer me up," Neon Guard said, smiling. "No matter what, she's glad and joyful about everything and she's always so positive. And, she makes the best of jokes. She would make me laugh if I asked her to make a joke."