//------------------------------//
// Pink Friday 
// Story: Dear Journal 
// by Not 
//------------------------------//

The dream was strange yet familiar. I was in a dark cave. I had walked this dark cave for a very long time, and I didn't know how long that was any more. I saw light up ahead, but when I approached it I came upon five tunnels. One was filled with rose quarts, shiny, pink, going in all directions, and it smelled of sweetness. The next was dark, darker than the tunnel I came from. The third had a dim light to it, a grey tone with some hope in it. The fourth shone a gentle yellow, sloping gently upward, and the sound of a gentle stream and small animals could be heard. The final tunnel was long, but there was a bright light at the end of it. I followed the sweet scent down the first tunnel

I woke up early, and gently. The morning was quiet, and I didn't really have anything planned until the party started. So I decided to do something extra dangerous... I went to the library and read a book.

The walk through Ponyville was quiet, and not much happened. In my constant disguise no pony really noticed me. I knocked gently when I got there, and the door was opened by a cute little purple dragon.

Spike looked up at me, not used to new comers actually wanting to go to the library. "Whoa, um, hello. I don't see new faces in the library all that often. What can I help you with?"

I just smiled. Books were sadly not the most popular thing. "Well, if you could guide me to any good fiction or comics that would be nice. I just need something to pass the time for a few hours."

His face lit up. "Comics? Follow me!" He started half running down toward what I assumed was his favorite part of the library. "Twilight doesn't like comic books all that much, but since they are a type of book she let me fill a shelf with some of them."

I looked at the rather impressive selection shoved into a rather small area. They weren't individual monthly releases, but the big combined series. Things like the Batmare comic Shh and older comics like 'What if the Discord War Had Happened on the Moon?' were there. It was great. "Nice collection, let's see, do you have..." I found it before finishing the sentence. "Woo! Culinary Prince. Nice." He gave me a rather expected odd look. "I like cute things. I mean, sure explosions are fun too, and super hero comics are nice, but I've fallen behind on this series."

He shook his head to get rid of the confused look. "I kinda left that there because a couple of fillies wanted it. Super heroes, though, those are my favorites."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Well, duh, everyone loves super heroes. Who wouldn't want to fly and shoot lasers out of their eyes, or run at the speed of sound, or control weather?"

"I know, right? Even the sidekicks that don't have any powers get to do such cool stuff!"

I don't remember the rest of the conversation, but it lasted a WHILE. Talking about comics was always a great way to pass the time.

Eventually I looked at a clock on the wall, and decided it was time to leave. "It was cool talking to you. I'm Dolce by the way." It didn't feel like a lie, even if it was a bit of one.

Spike put his claw out to shake my hoof. "Spike. Come back any time you want to talk about comics, or just to see the library. I don't have a lot of ponies to talk to about comics around here."

"Small town problems. Hope to see you at the party tonight! See ya." He waved goodbye, and I trotted out the door into Ponyville.

It wouldn't take long to get ready for the party, so I was in no rush that day. Though I was looking forward to being at one of the most famously fun parties in Equestria. My tuxedo was perfect. It was also made of one of the easiest materials to recolor with magic. Based purely on that fact I wasted quite a bit of time trying out different colors. When I settled on the three colors I wanted I chose the proper scent for the party. It was called up quark. I don't expect anyone to get the reference.

I left with plenty of time to spare. Should I arrive early for my own party? Well surely I couldn't arrive late. I would be twenty minutes early at most. That should be fine, right? The only way to know was to be there was it not?

I was just under twenty minutes early upon arrival. As I opened the door a blindfold was placed over my eyes immediately.

"You can't peek until we're done."

I was confused, but decided to go with it. "Okay, Pinkie. Can you direct me to a seat then?" I sat by what I assumed was the wall.

"Okay, that goes over there, and that one there. No not THERE, that's the dance floor." The voice sounded almost like Pinkie's, but it was a bit off.

Pinkie's voice came out of the speakers quite loudly. "Testing, testing. This is the party announcement and music system." Then her voice came much quieter from somewhere to my right. "Turn it down a bit until the party is really going. 'Kay?"

"Got it Pinks." I didn't really recognize that voice. Music started playing and she dialed down the volume a bit.

After a few more minutes of Pinkie and the voice that was almost Pinkie giving directions my blindfold was removed.

Pinkie smiled. "Ready! What do you think. Too much? Not enough? Does it need more green?"

She always made me laugh. "It would be easier to tell if your nose wasn't against mine."

"Oh, yeah." She moved next to me. "Do you like it?"

I was amazed at what they'd set up in such a short time. "It's great Pinkie! How long is the party going to be?"

"Three hours."

"So I'll give the first surprise one hour in, and the second on at the second hour. Cool."

She let out a little happy gasp. "Two surprises? I thought you only had one! Surprise will be so happy! She, loves, surprises."

My left eyebrow arose. "Who?"

"Me!" A new face appeared inches from my own.

"Gah!" I then did probably the most multitasking I had ever done at once. My other eyebrow rose, both eyes opened wide as well as my mouth, and I raised my front hooves and heartrate, all while falling out of a chair. Both of the girls giggled. After my head cleared I looked up and saw a pegasus that looked like a white winged Pinkie pie.

I looked back and forth between the two. "Are you two related?"

They looked at eachother shrugged and giggled. Then Surprise spoke up. "So... what're the surprises? Huh? Huh? Are you going to declare your love for somepony? Did you buy somepony a really great gift?" She gasped quietly before whispering her last guess. "Did you invent a time machine?"

I leaned up to her ear and whispered loud enough so they both could hear. "If I tell you then they won't be a surprise."

Pinkie giggled as I passed a pouting Surprise. She positioned me near the door to introduce me to the first guests. Ponies poured into the party rather quickly and the music started.

After greeting at least fourty ponies I made my way to the snack table. I grabbed a slice of cake. Then some chips. Also a cupcake. Basically I got one of everything, and there was a lot of stuff.  After I finished off my food I hit the dance floor and soon enough it was tine for my first announcement.

I made my way to the stage, and the music quieted. "Fillies and gentlecolts, I would like to announce that Ponyville will have a new public utility starting tomorrow. The workshop is a place to learn to make whatever you want to make. There will be one more much bigger announcement before the party is over, so let's get back to dancing!" With that I slid to the middle of the dance floor as the music turned back up. There were a few murmers about the second announcement, but only one direct confrontation. "No, Surprise, I still won't tell you."

"Hmph"

The party was fun. It seemed to go by really fast though. It seemed only minutes when it was time for the second announcement. My heart was beating hard in my chest. The room fell almost silent and the music quieted again. I stepped up to the microphone.

I cleared my throat. "I've lived in many places in my life. I've traveled far to find my purpose, but I've never found that." Tears were almost flowing down my cheeks. "What I did find was a place where I'd like to stay. I can't live here as a lie though. Dolce N. Gabana is an assumed name." I dropped my disguise, and madr the tuxedo blue. "My name is Salieri Starr. And this is where I want to live." The room was silent for a few moments until a fangirlish scream came from somewhere in the crowd. Ponies began charging the stage trying to climb up. It didn't take long before I was surrounded. Questions came at me from all sides. I couldn't make out any of them though.

I used my magic to amplify my voice this time. "QUIET." Once the room quieted I continued at a more regular volume. "I'll be living in town. Just come by the workshop and ask me anything." I smirked and added, "anything not about hoofball that is."

The party wound down slowly from there. I offered to help clean up, but I was told to just go home. I had just left the barn, and was on my way when a familiar pink voice stopped me.

"Hey, Dolce."

I turned to see Pinkie. "I told you that's not my real name."

She nodded and trotted up right next to me. "Maybe not, but you'll always be my sweetie."

"Huh?"

Then ... she kissed me. She KISSED me, and ran off before I could stop her.

I hadn't tried it in a while, but it was my only shot. I ran then did a short range blink and I was standing in front of her. I leaned in, and kissed her back. "I'll walk you back home."

We went along in silence for a while, but it was nice. I was the one that broke it. "Why me?"

"Huh?"

"Why pick me over every other colt?"

"Well, you're pretty good looking for a colt, and you told everypony who you were after hiding it for so many years, and you like coloring."

My expression grew stern. "Everypony likes coloring. If they ever tell you they don't they're lying."

She smiled. "Pff, yeah, but you actually still get coloring books!"

It was my turn to smile. "Actually I saved those from when I was little. I have about 20 more at home."

By that time we were already at her door. I didn't want to say goodbye so I did something better. "What are you doing for lunch tomorrow?"

"Nothing special unless you are."

She was good at that. "Meet me at the workshop around noon. 'Kay? I'll cook you something."

She gave me one more kiss in response. "It's a date."

"See you then. Have a good night."

It was a long walk home, but only because I made it so. It gave me time to smile. Tonight was a good night. I'd better get to bed early to be ready for tomorrow. After all there were bound to be numerous townsponies with questions for me. I did tell them to come by... oh well. I couldn't let that ruin my mood.

When I'd arrived home I made my way upstairs to get ready for bed, despite the early hour I found sleep quickly, and had the best dreams I'd ever had.