Sugar Cube Corner was filled with the smell of countless baked goods. There were a bunch more in a cart headed for the Pie family farm. AJ seemed really worried that I let the crusaders take it while she was looking for Big Mac, but I'm sure they'll do fine. I then looked around, trying to find counter space for the tray of muffins I had in my mouth. I looked again.
"Yea, sorry sugar cube, but I think there ain't anywhere left to put it down in here. I think we overdid it a bit. I still can't figure how you can get so much done even with all these ovens to use. It just don't seem possible." AJ then laughed "Oh yea."
"Muh?" I then opened my mouth wide enough the tray dropped to the ground. "I don't get it. What's funny."
"Never mind none Pinkie."
I picked up the tray again. I then zipped out front and put the muffins on the counter. I looked around for Derpy hiding in the rafters, but then remembered she was afraid of muffins right now thanks to AJ. At least it seemed like it. I mean why else would you be afraid of muffins besides the baked bads?
"How big you really planning this party being? Ah mean how big can a room be you made when you were a bunch of little fillies."
"It was already bigger than our house and we made it much bigger. You think I don't work hard just because I spend most of my time inside?"
"I admit I sometimes do, but not any days I see you bake. That endless energy can be used for lots of things I guess."
I smiled "The best thing is I get tired less. I mean I totally used to get wiped all the time, but now I make it though the whole day without a rest like all the time."
"Wait, wha?"
"Oooo, if we take this stuff over to the party we can bake even more."
"Pinkie what exactly do you mean by not getting tired?"
"Oh, I used to like crash all the time. The cakes called it a sugar crash, but I'm pretty sure I just like did way too much. I'd be fine after a little rest, and a snack, but now it like almost never happens. I mean that one time I was running around in the heat wearing all those costumes I like totally collapsed, but most of the time I'm not outside that much so I'm sure that's all it was."
"Sounds like this is somethin' you should be telling Twilight. Though ah been having a bit fewer rest breaks too ah guess. Ah mean that whole single handed applebucking business was proof of that sure enough. Ah did much better than normal."
"That didn't seem like better to me."
"Well it sure weren't ma best, but ah don't even remember goin' to sleep. Ah musta got a few hours here or there, but ah sure didn't get much, yet ah was more a danger to everyone else than maself. Ah was right as rain with a bit of rest too."
"Ooo, neat, so is this because of that whole being the elements thing Luna said?"
"Ah reckon, but we would really need to ask Twilight. Even if she might not know considering Luna was the one who figured it out, and she ain't sure neither."
"Okay, then some of this must be cool enough, lets box it up and get it the party."
"Sounds good sugarcube."
"Ooo, I know. Lets sing a song to make the work go faster." I then cleared my throat a little. "The packing is..."
I then suddenly had a hoof in my mouth. I then glared at AJ. She sighed removed her hoof. I briefly considered licking her hoof, but mother was really clear about when it is and isn't the right time to lick somepony. Those rules never made any sense to me, but when I do break them Ponies give me weird looks so maybe she was right. But sometimes it's just so hard to resist.
"What was that for?"
"Ain't nothing against your singing or your songs, but I wanted to talk about something else. Namely you and these tea parties. You really just sit around with that mare and do all that frou frou stuff."
I nodded. "It's training. Rarity said mostly I need patience, but she's also teaching me proper manners."
"You really doing it just because it's a party? I mean that's true enough, but it don't seem like that should be enough."
"Just because I don't understand it doesn’t mean they aren't having fun. I told you I vowed to…"
"Ah, that's your problem right there sugarcube." She then laughed. "Fancy parties like the gala ain't really for fun."
"What?"
I was walking back into the kitchen when I turned around to look at AJ. A party that isn't fun? If there's no fun, how can it be a party? I felt tears start to run down my face. Why was I crying?
"No, that can't be possible."
"Look, you said you know that fancy parties ain't just like normal parties but fancier clothes right?"
I nodded.
"Okay, so it's like this here. Now you can have some fun any time there are some friends about, we all learned that the hard way. Good company makes anythin' better."
I nodded again.
"But that type a party ain't really for fun. There is music, but it's classical, which is only really good for slow dances."
"Rarity explained that like super dooper well. That it's supposed to be all romantic and stuff. Ooo, ooo. And for like talking with other ponies."
"Yea, and what this really all comes down to is them high society parties aren't about fun, but making connections and showing off."
"Connections? Connections to what? I mean one time this squid was connected to my face but…"
"Like business connections and such. The royals and other political types are al there as well as famous ponies and…"
"Politics is no fun at all. Yea, every pony knows that."
"That is the real point of these sorts of parties, ya talk about nothing at all in a pleasant manner so you can try to get something out of them later. Plus you show off how rich and important you is."
"Wow AJ, you sure know a lot about this sorta thing."
"Yea, well auntie and uncle Orange tried to be right helpful teaching me everythin' a proper lady should know. Ah still remember a bit of it even though ah realized ah ain't never gonna be no proper lady."
I then put my hoof to my chin. AJ started boxing up stuff while I sat there. Between AJ and Rarity I think I understood now. I felt really silly when I first realized fancy parties were not just normal parties with fancy clothes and fancy music, but different somehow. But now I think I got it.
"They're not parties at all really, are they? They're just uh…"
"Don't bother yourself thinking about it sugar cube."
"Well, it doesn't matter. I want to be the partiest party pony I can be, which means I just have to figure out how to have fun at any party, even Rarity style."
"Uh, ah reckon that's a noble sort of goal. Ah think."
"Come on, we have a serious normal party to prepare, and party preparing Pinkie is serious Pinkie. Look how serious I am."
Applejack did turn to look at me, and then raised one eyebrow. Then she turned back to boxing up stuff. I was about to help her, but then I was next to her and suddenly the wrong thing from earlier was back. I still wasn't sure what it was, but it was bugging me. What could it be, and why did standing near AJ make me realize it again.