//------------------------------// // Together Me and You // Story: One Small Thing // by SkyPieIsTheBest //------------------------------// Skystar walked through her small town, a cheerful smile plastered on her face. The ocean splashed on the beach, and the smell of salt traveled on the breeze, that would ruffle her yellow and blue dress every now and then. She waved to people as they passed her, knowing most of them by name. She was on her way home, excited to see if her her long distance friend, Pinkie Pie, had sent another letter. The two friends had been sending letters back and forth for about a year now since they met, but they had been a while since they met up in person. Skystar hoped that her friend could do so soon, seeing as she couldn't exactly just leave. With a sort of overprotective mother and no car, she didn't exactly have a way to see her best friend; plus, Pinkie had college which meant she didn't have time to come over. She walked with a skip in her step, humming her favorite song. Once she reached the house, she eagerly opened her mailbox to find a single, lonely letter sitting inside. She grabbed it out and ran inside,reaching into her backpack to get her keys to unlock her door. Once she got it open, she bounced inside and grabbed her letter opener, excited to open up the envelope to see what her best friend had said. “Mom, I'm home!” she called, though she knew that her mother probably wasn't home. Novo was usually busy with work. She was the head of a big company, that’s name Skystar could never remember. Hippo-something? Anyway, her job made her travel far, far away, almost halfway across their town, which had a much easier name than her company, Aris. Skystar never really understood why her mother didn't just move them across town, but she guessed that it was because, this way, they were much closer to the ocean. Ever since Skystar was young, her and her mother absolutely loved the ocean: collecting shells, swimming, even just the sights and smells made them happy. If they moved, it would be much harder to go to the ocean as much as they did. Skystar ripped open the top of the envelope and tore out the letter, climbing up the stairs and to her room. Inside, her room was decorated with shells and other artifacts she found in the ocean: sea stars, sand dollars, you name it, she probably had it in her room. On her desk, she had her two shells, Shelly and Sheldon, that she always kept close to her heart. She remembered the fact that Pinkie Pie absolutely loved her clams, and her heart swelled at the thought of her friend. Inside the envelope was a pink (Pinkie’s favorite color) piece of paper with squiggly writing that Skystar had gotten used to reading after about a month of struggling. My dearest Skystar, Skystar giggled at the formal greeting. Pinkie was a dork. As you might already know, Spring Break is coming up. I have a week off school, and Twilight says I should be studying, but forget that! I want to see my bestest, most amazingest, most fantasticest friend ever! It's been far too long Sky, and I want to spend all the time in the world with you! I would love to come over this Friday afternoon to see you! Excitedly awaiting your next letter Your dearest Pinkie Pie. Skystar had to reread the letter two or three times. She could hardly believe her eyes! It had been at least a year and a half since she last saw Pinkie Pie. Excitement made Skystar race to the door and stumble down the stairs. In the foyer, Novo was standing in a suit. She obviously just got home. “Mom! Mom!” Skystar cried, waving her arms in excitement. Novo held up her finger and pointed to her phone. Skystar bounced on her toes, clutching the letter in her hands. Finally, Novo hung up the phone and turned to her daughter smiling, her eyebrow raised. “What is it dear?” she asked, sounding slightly exasperated by her daughters beaming excitement. “PinkiePiejustsentmealetteranditsaysthatshecancomeovercauseSpringBreakstartssoonbutIdidntknowSpringBreakstartedsosoonand-” Novo held up her hands for her to stop. “What?” she asked. “Slow down, Skystar I didn't catch a word of that.” Skystar took a deep breath, still panting from her long rambling. “Pinkie Pie says she can come over!” she cried, throwing her arms up in the air. “Cause Spring Break starts this Friday!” Novo looked surprised, but she smiled. “That’s great, dear,” she said, nodding. Skystar was a little upset by her not-very-excited tone. “You two can spend all the time in the world together then.” Skystar jumped again. “I know,” she squealed. “I'm going to write back right away.” She trampled back up the stairs and grabbed a piece of blue (her second favorite color besides yellow) paper and a pretty pen she decorated herself with tiny seashells. She bit at the tip of her pen before she began writing: My Dearest Pinkie Pie, She began, copying Pinkie’s funny little formal intro. I'm so excited to hear you can come over next week. I can't wait to see you! It’s been like almost two years since we saw each other. We're totally gonna do so much together! It's gonna be so much fun! Oh my gosh I wanna just keep blabbering on but I also wanna just send this and hear back from you asap. Okay. I'm done. Alright. I'm so excited. Okay Sincerely, Your Dearest, Darlingest Friend, Skystar. She wrote her name with pretty swirls and made the period a little heart, then she drew a silly little face in the corner of the paper. Pinkie told her she loved her drawings, and it always made her feel warm and fuzzy when Pinkie complimented her art style. She grabbed a yellow envelope and slid it in, licking it and closing it tight. After writing her best friend's address, she hopped downstairs, swung open the door, and neatly set her little envelope into the mailbox. Excitement tingles, as her and Pinkie liked to call them, ran from Skystar’s fingertips to her toes. Silently, she prayed to Celestia that the letter would get to her best friend soon. Pinkie’s letter came three days later, Wednesday, two days before the day that they'd meet again. Skystar was ecstatic when she found the pink envelope in her mailbox. She burst into the house and tore it open, reading the letter as quickly as she could: Hi, Sky! I'm so so so excited to meet you this Friday and I'm glad you are too! I know I didn't mention this in the last letter, but, as long as Ms. Novo says yes, I really really really wanted to go on a road trip with you over this Spring Break. I know it's super sudden, but I hope you and your mom say yes. Love, Pinkie. Skystar immediately ran to the kitchen where her mom was standing, and showed her the letter, begging her to let her go. “No.” And with that single word, Skystar’s excitement shattered. “Mom!” she whined, slumping her shoulders. “Pleeease? I'll do anything! I haven’t seen Pinkie in such a long time!” “Skystar,” her mother began, putting on her ‘I'm going to be lecturing you for half an hour and you're just gonna have to sit and listen’ voice, “Pinkie Pie is coming over, the only notice being a week before hand, and now she wants to just drag you away? I won’t have her drag you around who knows where.” “It’s not like I’m leaving with a complete stranger,” Skystar huffed, crossing her arms. “I’ve known Pinkie for years now. Mom, come on, you know I’ll be safe, and you know Pinkie is a good person. Please mom, we haven’t seen each other in a whole year and I don’t know how long it will be after this.” Novo gave her a thoughtful look. She laughed when her daughter gave her the best puppy dog face she had. “Fine,” she sighed. “But you need to call me every night.” Once again, excitement tingles burst through Skystar. She squealed and jumped up and down. “Oh I will!” Skystar promised, pulling her mom into a big, tight hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Novo laughed and hugged her back. “Your welcome, dear,” she said. “Now, go start packing. It’s gonna be a long week.” Skystar raced back upstairs and grabbed her best clothes, folding them quickly and shoving them into her suitcase, which ruined the point of folding all together. She grabbed her swimsuit just in case they went to a motel with a pool, and grabbed Shelly and Sheldon, gently placing them on top of the suitcase. She grabbed her pretty blue and yellow backpack and put the rest of her essentials into it, ready to go. She squealed again, bouncing on her toes in excitement. Sleep probably won’t be coming tonight. Skystar was right. She slept fitfully the whole night, her excitement tingles keeping her awake. Her heart was doing somersaults in her chest as she thought about meeting her friend again, and as she finally drifted to sleep, she dreamed about waking up and rushing over to hug Pinkie Pie as she pulled into the driveway. When she woke up, she leaped out of bed, changed out her pajamas as quickly as she could, ran a brush through her hair once, and rushed downstairs, hoping she’d see Pinkie in the foyer. But she didn’t. She only saw Novo, talking away on her phone and writing on a notepad. Once Skystar reached the last step, Novo hung up and smiled at her. “I’ll be back from work by one this afternoon at the latest,” she informed her daughter. “Don’t leave until I’m back, okay?” “Will do, mom,” Sky said, walking over to her and giving her a hug. “I’ll see you later.” When Novo left, Skystar spent most of her time looking out the window and waiting for Pinkie. She made herself breakfast and ate in front of the window, read in front of the window, and pretty much just stared out the window until she saw a car she recognized pull up into the driveway. Time seemed to freeze. Skystar almost couldn’t move when she saw the fluffy pink hair of her friend, and saw her step out of the car, pulling out her suitcase. She squealed, rushing to the door and tearing it open. Pinkie had barely gotten to the mailbox when Skystar collided into her with a big hug, nearly shoving her over. “You’re here!” she squealed,  burying her face into her friend’s fluffy hair. “I’ve missed you so much. I’m so happy you’re here, Pinkie, we’ll do so much together, and we’ll have so much fun-” She began to ramble, her words almost incomprehensible as she stumbled over herself, fumbling for the correct words. Pinkie giggled and pushed her away. “Hey, silly,” she laughed, her big blue eyes sparkling with happiness. “It’s good to see you too! I’m so excited to leave!” Skystar grabbed the suitcase from Pinkie’s hand and lead her into the house, explaining to her that they couldn’t leave until Novo came home. Pinkie was completely fine with waiting for Skystar’s mother to return, and they decided they’d just sit in Skystar’s room until she returned. Skystar set Pinkie’s suitcase on the bed and sat down next to it. “So what’re we gonna do?” Pinkie asked, smiling to Skystar as she sat next to her. She placed her hand on Skystar’s own and squeezed it, giggling. “I guess we just wait until mom gets home,” she said, shrugging. “I didn’t exactly plan anything for our wait, sorry.” She rubbed the back of her neck. Pinkie nodded and got up, letting go of Skystar’s hand, which made her sad. I just wanna hug her forever. “I’m gonna take a shower,” Pinkie told her. “I spent all day in that car, I’m super smelly.” Skystar giggled and nodded. “The bathroom is just next to my room,” she told her. “To the right.” Pinkie thanked her and left the room with some new clothes and her own hairbrush. Skystar wondered how she brushed her hair when it was so fluffy and curly. I’m glad my hair is straight, she thought, watching Pinkie leave the room. Skystar heard the door close and the water begin to run. Skystar lay in silence for a long while, the only noise being the water running from the other room. She decided she’d sit at her desk and doodle while Pinkie showered. She drew little pictures of her and Pinkie together, more tingles of excitement rushing through her. She jumped when two arms wrapped around her shoulders and wet hair brushed against her cheek. “Pinkie!” she squeaked, turning to her friend. Her hair was still wet, making it flat and straight. It looked much different than the normal poofiness. “Your hair is still wet.” Pinkie giggled and grabbed her brush, dragging it through her hair. “Sorry,” she said as Skystar stuck her tongue out at her. As soon as Pinkie finished brushing her hair, the two heard the door downstairs open. Novo was home. Excitement burst through Skystar. She looked at Pinkie, who was already rushing through the door and downstairs to where Skystar’s mom was standing in the foyer, setting her keys on the table. “Hello, Pinkie Pie,” Novo said, smiling at the pink haired teen in front of her. “How’re you today?” Pinkie smiled politely at Novo. “I’m doing well, how about you?” Skystar bounced up and down, feeling impatient. She wanted to leave as soon as her mother got home, but she knew Novo well enough to know that she would want to ask Pinkie to stay for lunch and maybe even dinner. She groaned inwardly, but reminded herself to be happy that Pinkie was there in the first place. I can be patient for a bit longer. “Would you like to stay for lunch before you leave?” Called it. After lunch, Pinkie and Novo just sat and talked for a while; mostly about college and Novo’s company. Skystar stared at the clock. It was two p.m. Once the conversation died down, Skystar stepped in: “Hey, when are we gonna go?” Novo giggled and nodded to her daughter. “You can leave whenever you want, dear,” she said. “I just wanted to catch up with Ms. Pie.” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Cool!” Skystar said. “I’ll put our suitcases in Pinkie’s car.” She raced upstairs, hearing Pinkie giggle and start talking to Novo again. She grabbed her and Pinkie’s suitcases and her backpack, looking at Sheldon and Shelly. “Sorry, guys,” she said, kissing her fingers and placing them on their heads. “I’ll be back in a little bit, I just don’t want to lose you.” She took her case downstairs and put it in her car, along with her pack. “Pinkie!” she called to the door. She saw Pinkie at the door, still speaking with Novo. They walked slowly to the car, before finally Pinkie Pie stepped inside, saying goodbye to Novo. “Bye mom,” Sky said, hugging her mom tight and kissing her cheek. “I’ll see you next week, I promise.” “Of course,” Novo sighed. She placed her hand on Skystar’s cheek. “I’ll miss you.” Skystar hugged her once more before stepping into the car. “I’ll call you tonight, I promise!” She closed the door and rolled down the window. Pinkie started the car and began to drive away. “Stay safe!” Novo called, her voice stern. “We will,” Skystar laughed, waving to her mother. Skystar’s fingers tingled. Finally, her adventure began.