“Rainbow? Talk to me girl.” Gilda said to her dumbstruck friend.
“Oh? Uh, yeah, this is the spot, thanks for the ride, dude.” Rainbow told her, snapping out of it. She opened the passenger door and was just about to get out when she felt a hand place gently on her shoulder.
“Seriously, are you going to be okay?’
“O-of course I am! I gotta go and meet the girls, thanks for the ride.”
She didn’t mean to slam the door, but she couldn’t help herself either.
As her friend drove away, Rainbow started wading through the crowd just to get to the front door. There seemed to be about 15 or 20 people on the front lawn alone, and she was dreading to see how crowded it will be once she’s inside. Just looking around, Dash barely recognized anyone nearby. Two of them seemed to be from high school, but she never learned their names. Where the hell did everyone else come from?
Reaching the door, she could already feel the vibrations from the music pulsating throughout the house. Pinkie must’ve invited that DJ girl they used to see around. What was her name again?
Rainbow didn’t bother knocking or ringing the bell, letting herself in. Inside was just as full with randos as she feared. Everywhere she looked there were people talking, laughing, cracking jokes, hitting on each and playing drinking games. Actually, how was there alcohol here?
“RAINBOW DAAAAAASSSHH!!” shouted a vibrant, bubbly girl, cutting through all the noise.
She didn’t have any time to look for where the shout came from, because in an instant she was held up in a great big hug from behind.
“Whoa-ho, you can let me down now birthday girl!”
Pinkie dropped her friend back on solid earth, with Rainbow gingerly keeping the cake box level in her arms.
“It’s been so long! I’m so so so happy to see you again! Pinkie exclaimed in her excitement.
“I’m happy too Pinkie, and me and Fluttershy worked on your gift together. It’s a— “
“Omigosh, did I miss Fluttershy!?” Pinkie said, rapidly scanning the room.
“She wanted to get ready before coming over, she’ll probably get here in a little bit. Anyways, in this box is a cake that we worked on together.” The box lifted open.
“Awww, it says Happ Birthd Pinki” Pinkie said with a genuine smile.
“Wait, what?” Rainbow looked down on the cake to see that a third of it was smooshed in, messing up the icing. It must’ve happened during the hug!
“Aw crap, I’m sorry Pinkie. It wasn’t supposed to end up like this…”
“Dash, you don’t have to apologize, it doesn’t matter what it looks like, it’s still gonna be tasty in the end!”
“Y-yeah, that’s right.” She said, trying to force herself to smile back. “I don’t even know why I’m so worried, in fact, I had this crazy idea that we’re all drifti-- “
“Darling!” Pinkie yelled
“Huh?”
“Darling Sweet! From my class! She’s waving at me, I think she needs my help. I gotta go Rainbow, you can put the cake on the kitchen table bye!”
The energetic girl sped her way to who knows where, leaving Rainbow on her own in a sea of strangers. She took another look around, but couldn’t see any other friends. Feeling defeated, she made her way to the kitchen.
Inside, she was shock to notice that on the table there were three incredibly large cakes taking up most of the space. Each of them having five layers, the cakes being solidly colored in pink, yellow and blue frosting respectively. The cakes each had one word on them.
Happy.
Birthday.
Pinkie.
Looking back down on the cake they made, it just seemed so… mediocre.
What was she gonna do at this point? Rainbow found the corner with the most room and wedged her tiny cake in without messing with the others. She let out a great big sigh and leaning her back on the counter top, thought about how stupid she felt. Dash forced herself out of it though, after all, she’s in a middle of a party! Her friend’s birthday party nonetheless!
She left the kitchen, trying to remember the direction she saw the birthday girl run into. The hallway she entered was incredibly claustrophobic, leaving barely enough room for one person to squeeze their way through since there were so many party goers just chatting it up. After peeking on all the first-floor rooms in vain, Rainbow decided to check out the basement. For all she knew, Pinkie was fixing a plumbing issue. It sounded random enough.
The basement stairs were as creaky as they always been, and from the top it looked like the room was empty. The TV seemed to be on and playing something though, so she went all the way in just to make sure.
“Rainbow Dash?”
She swiftly looked to the side to see that Twilight and Sunset were on the couch together.
“O-oh! Hey you two!” Rainbow said with happiness. “How are ya?”
“We’re fine?” Twilight said, tilting her head slightly.
“So, uh, watching a movie here?”
“Yeah, Twilight here still isn’t too keen with crowds,” Sunset explained,” So we asked Pinkie if we can hang out here until they’re ready to cut the cake.”
“Sorry Sunset…” Twilight half mumbled.
“Twily, you seriously need to stop saying you’re sorry when you didn’t do anything. I’m with you because I care.”
Rainbow noticed how close they were cuddling together, realizing she may have interrupted something between the couple. She knew enough to know when not to linger.
“Before I leave you two lovebirds alone— “
“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted, clearly a little embarrassed.
“I’m only teasing, but anyways, have you seen the others?”
“Rarity should be around the house somewhere, and Applejack left to run an errand, but said she’ll be back in a few.” Sunset answered.
“Cool, and uh, I’m happy to see you guys again.”
“We’re happy to see you too.” Twilight said with a smile.
Rainbow thought it was cute that they already started using ‘we’ together. She waved them bye before climbing the stairs to the backyard door, seeing an even bigger crowd gathered around.
In the corner of the yard, that DJ girl was playing her tracks, and the party goers were loving it, moving to the beat. After a quick scan, it seemed like Rarity wasn’t in this crowd. It would’ve been obvious if she were. Rarity loved to find ways to stand out in a crowd.
Rainbow just gave up, taking a break on a lawn chair. Nothing was going the way she imagined it would, and it was wearing on her. It was then that she remembered something that Gilda mentioned on the way over. She slipped out the invitation that she kept in her back pocket.
You’re Super Duper Invited to the Party of the Century (so far)
The Perfectly Precious Pinkie Pie is turning 19!
BYOF!
Rainbow thought that last word was just Pinkie being random like she always has, until she squinted hard onto the letter under the dim outdoor lights. There was fine print.
(Bring Your Own Friends!)
She just hung her head in utter embarrassment.