//------------------------------// // 44. The Party Preparation Mission // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// “Pinkie Pie?” Rarity called out as she knocked on Pinkie’s door, rubbing her arms from the cold and stamping her hooves in the snow. “Darling, are you in there?” “It’s unlocked!” Pinkie called back. “Let yourself in!” Rarity did just that and found Pinkie working tirelessly in the kitchen, preparing dish after dish of scrumptious smelling desserts and courses, and Rarity couldn’t help but be starstruck, mouth hanging open in awe, at Pinkie’s culinary skill. “My, this certainly is something,” Rarity said as she walked past a long table absolutely covered in treats, snacks and ingredients. “Are you planning on inviting an army to the library tonight?” “Twilight said she can use her magic to keep the food warm or to reheat it,” Pinkie said, taking a tray out of the oven and putting another in just as quickly, “so I wanna make sure she has leftovers cuz I know her and Spike kinda scrape by on a whole lotta not much.” “So do you and Applejack,” Rarity said cautiously, fingers gently grazing the table. “Are you sure you don’t need these leftovers more than her?” “We’ll manage,” Pinkie shrugged, mixing a bowl with a wooden spoon over the sink. “Me and Applejack already talked everything over, we’re good! Honestly, don’t worry so much, Rarity! You’ll start turning into Applejack!” “Honestly, I wouldn’t mind turning into Applejack, if only to have her physique,” Rarity chuckled, and her eyes fell over the enormous lineup of delicacies again. “You certainly are going through a lot of trouble to plan this party though.” “Parties don’t plan themselves, Rarity,” Pinkie flipped something out of a pan onto a plate, then poured whatever was in that bowl from before into the now empty pan. “And besides, it’s no trouble. I really like doing it!” “That’s fair.” Rarity took a seat and stretched her arms above her head, grateful that Pinkie’s kitchen allowed her the space to do so, unlike Twilight’s which was constantly cramped with far too many hanging pots and pans. Honestly, one of these days Rarity would need to help Twilight manage her space more efficiently. Spring cleaning, perhaps? Well, if spring ever came at this rate. “How goes your ever-so-anticipated return trip to Ponyville?” Rarity chirped, returning to the conversation in front of her. She needn’t daydream about Twilight right now, they were going to be seeing each other tonight, after all. “Ironed out all the details already, I presume?” “Yepyepyepyep, yepyep!” Pinkie giggled as she stirred a pot on the stove. “Got it all planned out for next week! Gonna bake a bunch of special treats for Fluttershy! I’ve even got some new recipes I haven’t tried before that I’m dying to test out! It’s gonna be so much fun!” “And you’re going by yourself?” “Yeah,” Pinkie sighed, though her momentary deflation was quickly swept aside as she bounced to the other side of the counter to grab some more ingredients for whatever was in that pot. “Applejack can’t go with me cuz she’s running the shop, and I don’t really know Rainbow well enough to ask her to go with me.” “I’m sorry I can’t go,” while that statement was half true, Rarity also had no desire to revisit the Everfree Forest again in her life. But more than that, her time with Twilight had started to make her feel rather lax in her duties as a Slayer, and it was imperative that she sign herself up for another mission before the month was out. “It’s okay,” Pinkie said cheerfully, pouring the contents of the pot into a colander in the sink. “Honestly, I think it’ll be nice just to get some one-on-one time with Fluttershy. Speaking of-” Pinkie’s eyes lit up as she grinned at Rarity, who arched an eyebrow in concern “-you excited for the party tonight?” “What is that supposed to mean?” Rarity replied teasingly, knowing full well what Pinkie Pie was implying. “I hope you don’t get too jealous that everypony else is gonna wanna spend time with Twilight too,” Pinkie giggled and returned to her frying pan, poking at the contents with a spatula. “Well,” Rarity harrumphed dramatically, biting down a smile, “at least I don’t have to take a two-hour train ride to visit my crush!” The air inside the kitchen froze over instantly as Pinkie’s silence was met by a pang of guilt from Rarity. “Rarity?” Pinkie asked, standing completely still over the stove. “Yes, Pinkie Pie?” Rarity replied, her breath held as her guilt crept up into her throat like a virus. “Do you think I’m wasting my time?” Pinkie asked, her voice as cold as the wind outside. “Do you think I’m making a big deal outta this whole thing, and Fluttershy just doesn’t even care, and I’m being totally stupid for thinking about her so much?” “Does the thought of seeing Fluttershy make you happy?” “It does,” Pinkie replied without hesitation, nodding her head and poking at the frying pan again. “I really wanna see her again and talk to her.” “Then as long as you respect Fluttershy’s boundaries and her agency,” Rarity said, “you should follow that trail of happiness for as long as it goes, wherever it leads you.” Pinkie Pie sniffled, and that was Rarity’s cue to walk over to the little pink mare and give her a hug. “Thanks, Rarity,” Pinkie giggled, and then snorted as she sniffled and tried not to cry over the stove. “Don’t mention it, sweetheart,” Rarity whispered, holding Pinkie tightly and resting her head above Pinkie’s. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” “It’s okay,” Pinkie said sweetly. “Thanks for the apology, and for the advice.” Pinkie looked up at Rarity and grinned devilishly, and Rarity arched an eyebrow expectantly, waiting for Pinkie’s smart remark. “I’ll be sure to take it to heart, since you obviously know a lot about having a crush.” “Oh har har,” Rarity rolled her eyes and returned to her seat at the other side of the kitchen. “Honestly, it’s not even a crush,” Rarity said about her crush. “Then what is it?” Pinkie asked idly, not even looking at Rarity as she whisked something over the stove or some such; Rarity had lost track of Pinkie’s movements as she started daydreaming about what it might be like kissing Twilight. “Uhhhh,” Rarity replied eloquently. “Oh okay,” Pinkie snorted again. “That clears it up.” “Oh shush,” Rarity said, trying and failing to suppress a laugh, but it wasn’t long before the laughter of the two ponies resonated throughout the kitchen.