//------------------------------//
// Sugarcube Corner and the Orchard 
// Story: Moving to Ponyville 
// by Rainbow_Flash 
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	"Hi Rainy. Where- Where are we going today?" I tried not to sound flustered, and did the best smile I could muster. Raindrops started to answer, but my eyes strayed up to her mane. It was dripping, wetter than usual, and overall- messy! My lips were squirming, trying to open up and laugh. I made sure they didn't though, and Raindrops had stopped talking- but I didn't notice. I felt like I was in a battle between laughing and keeping my mouth shut. My eyes finally moved back to her aqua ones, and they were staring at me- VERY sternly. I opened my mouth for a gulp of air and prepared to say I'm sorry-

"Ahahahahaha!" She- she was laughing? Why? I was staring at her- which is rather impolite- and I wasn't listening to her, but she was LAUGHING? You have GOT to be serious. "Yeah, yeah, my mane is a mess. I had to help clear some of the clouds by the orchard place- Apple Fields or something- and Cloud Chaser accidentally kicked a cloud above me and 'rained on my parade.' Plus, I had to fly over here in some real strong wind which messed up my mane. See? Perfectly logical explanation!" Raindrops said, imitating what the purple unicorn would probably say. We giggled at that, and started a slow pace towards the gingerbread house. Raindrops hovered above the ground next to me, and was telling me about her favorite cookies that she buys from there. Our conversation soon stopped, and we trotted in silence.

"So, who owns Sugarcube Corner? Have you told me about him or her before?" I said, trying to strike up a casual conversation. Raindrops grinned, and, quoting a character from her favorite SCI-Fi show, said, "Spoilers" with a huge grin. I sighed, rolling my eyes, and thought up a lively way to have fun-  in my favorite way! Turning to the yellow Pegasus, I said, "Race y-" I was tackled, and I fell into a puddle. My mane was now drenched like Rainy's mane, and I turned to see who assaulted me. It was not what I imagined. A pink missile. She was bouncing, smiling wide as a mile, and looked at me with blue eyes that screamed "be happy!" I stood up, and looked at her closely.

Pinkie Pie was slightly sweating, when I looked closely, and seemed to have ran a marathon to get here. I groaned in my head. Why the hyper one? Why now? "HiRaindropsandFlashowareyouI'mfinewhataboutyou?" I staggered to my hooves and stammered out a random response, not completely heaing what she had said. "Uh, yes?" Pinkie burst out laughing, and looked at me happily. "Silly Flash! I didn't ask a yes or no question! I asked, 'How are you.'" Pinkie started giggling again, bouncing along with us like what just happened had been the most normal thing in the world. I giggled with her, because I hadn't been listening and said a funny response. I would've laughed at a pony who did that!

"Pinkie, how- why did you tackle me? And why are you following us to that sweet shop, uh, Sugarcube Sweets?" I asked, wracking my brain to find the name of that shop. All the file cabinets of information were in terrible disarray, and mini-mes ran around trying to find that information. "Uh, Flash? I kinda forgot to tell you... Pinkie works at 'Sugarcube Sweets.'" Raindrops said, scuffing the ground with a hoof. Pinkie smiled and pulled a cupcake out from nowhere. "Here! A cupcake will cheer you up! And it's Sugarcube Corner Flashy!" Ugh. That is the worst nickname I have ever been given. Her smile certainly makes me happy, though, and I wish I could have a cupcake too... "You can have a cupcake! Just ask, silly mcpony pants!" Pinkie said, shoving a cupcake on my suddenly outstretched hoof. Pinkie continued bouncing along, and I thought over what just happened.

1. Pinkie can read minds and pull out cupcakes from nowhere.
2.  Pinkie works at Sugarcube Corner - Yes that's the name!- and likes making ponies happy.
3. I am writing a list in my head about something I shouldn't care about, much less make a mental list about.

I sighed to myself, and with my eyes closed, crashed into something. My nostrils exploded. Delicious, sweet gingerbread! Creamy vanilla icing! Cupcakes! Ponies were loudly chatting away inside, and I opened my eyes and saw a small line going out the door. Wow, is this the only sweet shop in town?

"Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, the most amazingly amazing sweetshop in all of Equestria!" Pinkie did a split and outstretched her front hooves. Her smile was getting very, very annoying. And very, very big.

"Do you want another cupcake, or maybe some.." While Pinkie droned on and on about what I might want, I fluttered inside to get a menu. Rainy followed me, with Pinkie hopping behind her. I shared a nervous glance at my PFF because Pinkie still hadn't stopped talking.

"...or a milkshake! Hey guys, what're you doing under the menu? You're supposed to read it, not sleep under it!" Pinkie said, giggling and snorting as I pointed my hoof at an apple-based cupcake. Raindrops ordered too, and the obnoxious party pony raced into the kitchen. A blue pony with a pink, frosting-styled mane trotted up to my and said, "Sorry, she always hounds newcomers. Would you like a drink with your cupcake, hun?" I merely shook my head. 

Pinkie and the earth pony exchanged places, and I started munching my cupcake. I didn't realize that apple cupcakes are horrible until I registered what I just ate. "Hey Flashy! That was Mrs. Cake, one of my bosseseses! I hope you like yo- hey, are you alright, best friend?"

I was coughing out my cupcake and Raindrops was patting me, whispering questions like "are you alright" and "shh" noises. I hate when Raindrops gets all motherly on me; it ruins the new image I wanted to make for myself. In my old town I was considered a coward. Pinkie Pie merely gasped and ran to the kitchen, coming out with a fresh, strawberry cupcake. I was groaning, forgetting about the annoyance that was Pinkie Pie. I swiped the cupcake and nibbled as much as I could.Pinkie was staring intently at me, and I cracked a weak smile.

"That f-feels better. Thanks a ton, Pinkie." I said, and with each word I gained more strength. "Just, next time, can you remember to not give me any apple cupcakes?"

Pinkie grinned widely and nodded her head a ton. She pranced back to the kitchen, and ponies stopped staring at what was happening. I looked at Raindrops and muttered, asking if we could leave and do something relaxing. I had a large head-ache from listening to Pinkie today. I needed some relaxing time where she couldn't bug us. Raindrops and I soared out and I unknowingly was following her. Lost in thoughts, I watched the landscape below me change from small town to large orchard. I watched how the red dots would suddenly disappear, and blurs of ponies walking around the trees. I sighed dreamily.

"So, you like the view buddy? It's about the most relaxing thing in the world, watching the Apples work." Raindrops called out from miles away. I barely heard the echo of her voice, and nodded lightly. It was so... organized, how they worked. And they didn't miss a beat! Kick tree, move baskets, kick tree, move baskets... It was like music, how they stayed on beat and did the same thing over and over. 

Raindrops and I soared over the orchard for hours, until I said I was going to go home. I got so relaxed by watching that and chatting with my friend who sounded a million miles away. I opened the door to my house, trotted lazily up the stairs, and fell into my bed. Today was very annoying at first, but it became the best day in Ponyville so far. I thought about the orchard and started to drift into sleep...