//------------------------------// // A walk with Lyra // Story: Jumper // by KMCA //------------------------------// As Alex runs off after the CMC in an attempt at damage control I notice a pony on the ground beside me, her bubbling laughter instantly identifiable, Pinkie Pie. “Oh boy, that was a good laugh. I mean I didn’t catch what was so funny but just watching you laughing so hard got me started and once I get started it’s hard to stop. I mean why would you want to, right? By the way, I’m Pinkie Pie.” Without thinking I reach out a hand to shake, only to freeze with my hand extended when I stupidly realize that ponies don’t have hands. Pinkie puts her hoof in my outstretched hand and gives it a shake, my brain catches up to my thoughts and I remember that ponies shook hooves on the show. I mentally slapped myself upside the head for starting to worry. “Hi Pinkie Pie. I’m Matthew Brennan, but you can call me Matt or Matthew. You know I’ve been wondering why I haven’t been ambushed with a welcome party yet. I mean I’ve been here for the better part of a week now.” She seemed so calm, where is the whirlwind of energy, the need to party, the randomness? “Well I finished planning it the second day you were here but I wanted to wait until you settled in a bit before I asked, Alex was saying that you might react badly if I just ambushed you with one. Besides it’s rude to just force a party on someone when they aren’t going to appreciate it.” Who is this pony and what did she do to Pinkie Pie. “You know you’re much calmer than I thought you’d be. I was actually kind of worried about meeting you.” She looked down, a little sadly, “Oh. You watch that silly willy show too?” She sighs and looks up at me, making eye contact, “It bugs me a little, I mean, how could I operate as an adult if I was going party crazy all the time? Don’t get me wrong, I love to party, and I can get super duper excited sometimes, but not if it will hurt somepony or cause a problem. I mean, I’m the element of laughter, right? Not the element of crazy.” “Yeah, don’t you just hate when people make judgements on bad information. But you know what? If Pinkie “Crazy” Pie throws awesome parties, I can’t even imagine what Pinkie “sane” Pie can pull off. I’d love to have a welcome party... just nothing too exciting.” I really wanted a Pinkie Party, if I had an Equestrian bucket list it would definitely be on it. “So casual dinner party?” “Not so formal.” “Dance party?” “My leg hasn’t healed enough.” Pinkie takes in a deep breath. I brace myself for an explosion of energy... it doesn’t come. “A buffet with lots of different types of food and drinks with music and games in the background but plenty of seating and just ponies who’ve shown interest in meeting you or I think would like to meet you?” All in one breath. I guess some things stay true afterall, I smiled and wondered what other show traits she still had. “That sounds great, in four days no more.” I kept a serious face, but allowed just enough play in my voice to suggest I was playing at something. “Two days, and not a moment sooner.” She responded in a slightly playful tone that contrasted with the serious look she had on her face. “Good, I won’t be expecting it.” We both suddenly turned and walked away, the stoic moment ruined by her giggle as she rounded the corner and began trotting merrily. Lyra looked completely lost. “It’s a surprise party. Now she knows when to plan it and I ‘don’t’ know when it’s going to happen.” I smiled, it was silly thing but sometimes I needed silly to keep me from losing my mind... Although the last few years had probably driven me closer to the edge than I’d like to believe. “So you’re pretending not to know to make her happy, while she pretends that you don’t know to make you happy? Interesting.” Lyra mumbles something under her breath about diverse subjects. I ignored Lyra’s observation and started walking again, without Lyra to guide me it was completely arbitrary if hey there’s Canterlot, I wonder what’s in that general direction was arbitrary. The second Lyra clued in that I was abandoning her she galloped to my side. “Since we’re already on this side of town would you mind if we stopped at the music store? I need a new G string, Bon-Bon broke it fooling around. Honestly why I let that mare touch my Lyre is beyond me. Every time she touches it I have to retune it or buy new strings.” I don’t know if it’s intentional, or if it was even something that other ponies would notice but Lyra used a lot of double entendres. The part of my mind that lives in the gutter couldn’t help but be amused by it, it was almost like being at work back home. I gesture the minty mare to lead the way, I was starting to think that today was going to be a good day. “If you don’t mind having to drag me out of said music store.”