//------------------------------// // Animandosi // Story: Ace of Hearts // by blowngasket //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Animandosi "Heh...heh...sup, Perry?" Catacomb said with a cheeky smile planted on his face. He watched as the surprised masked man continued to stare his way, before starting a brisk walk towards him. Catacomb didn't bother to struggle as Perry grabbed the back of his collar and started to drag him outside. Everyone watched the two make their way to the door, giving odd looks, as if they should be concerned or not. Catacomb giving the crowd a thumbs up didn't help the decision, so as they were leaving, most went back to the usual party mode. Twilight and the others stood there dumbfounded. Pinkie approached them and started to look towards the door. "They will be fine." she said to the others happily. "Lets go enjoy the party now!" Twilight looked at her friend. "Are you sure, Pinkie?" Twilight asked her friend. Pinkie nodded and smiled her usual happy smile. "I'm sure. If Perry was going to hurt him, my toes would get twitchy, my nose would get itchy, and my sides would feel all stitchy." Twilight stared at Pinkie, her eye twitching slightly. "Wait, you actually have a Pinkie Sense for that too?" Twilight asked, slight dumbfounded. "Well duh! Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" Pinkie responded. The lack of sense in Pinkie's statement making sense while not making sense, Twilight decided to just screw logic and go with it. Pinkie will be Pinkie after all. ---------- ----------- ---------- Perry casually leaned against the side of the building, Catacomb standing across from him. They looked at each other in silence for a minute before Catacomb finally decided to speak. "What's new with you, Perry?" "Nothing really. I work here at Sugercube Corner now. But besides that, not much has changed. How did everyone take my resignation anyways?" Perry asked, curious about the state of affairs. "Really well, actually. Minus Luna, who is probably still suffering the effects of the hangover." Catacomb said with a smile on his face. This caused Perry to chuckle. He knew Luna never really liked him around, so not having to work with him was probably cause enough for her to celebrate. "I am glad. I just don't feel up to it anymore. I like this kind of life now." Perry couldn't help but grin. Tell him that he would live a peaceful life in a small town a month ago, and he would probably kill you. "I guess I should ask you, why exactly are you here?" Catacomb took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, not wanting to be brief. "I envy you. You of all people were able to find a place for yourself in this world. I wanted a chance to find it myself, so I decided to take a break from that crowded city and come here. I dunno if I am going to be as lucky as you are...but ya never know." Catacomb's smile now was different from his usual cocky grin. It was almost a sad smile. "Well good news is I am your new roommate!" Catacombs expression changed instantly, as his toothy grin was back where it should be. "No." Perry responded, almost as quickly as Catacomb said it to him. "But Celestia said I could, and technically it's her place, so she has the final say, so bleh!" Catacomb stuck out his tongue. Perry weighed his option. Face the wrath of the deity controlling the sun, or live under the same roof as his former teammate. He didn't mind Catacomb, but he did mind the company he kept. Death was looking pretty good, but then he would make her sad. Finally he gave out a subtle sigh and nodded his head. "Fine, but two conditions." Catacomb smiled, listening to the rules that Perry was about to place. "First, you sleep on the couch. It folds out so you really can't complain." "No problem. Have you ever actually seen my bed? It's like sleeping on a wooden floor." Catacomb said. "And second, no inviting strange women over at weird hours of the night. I like sleep thank you very much." Perry spoke straight faced to his friend. "Do I really seem like that kind of person, Perry? I am shocked and appalled that you would even think that. Why I never!" Catacomb stormed off to go back to the party. Perry knew better though, so hopefully this meant he would abide by the rules. Catacomb stopped short of the door and looked over at Perry. "Speaking of women though, how is she doing?" Catacomb asked straight faced. Perry sighed at the question. "She is better, but it will still be a week before she will be cleared for release. Doc Redscar is taking care of her though, so I know it will be fine. He always did a bang up job for us." Catacomb couldn't see through the mask, but he had a feeling that Perry as smiling right now. "Enough of this chatting, Cata. You're missing out on your party! Me and Pinkie Pie spent a good amount of time planning this for you, so have fun!" Perry exclaimed happily. Catacomb nodded and smiled back, finally opening the door. Perry walked in with him, his arm draped over Catacomb's shoulder. They both took one look at each other before jumping up and shouting. "It's party time!!!" Everyone in the room watched as they pranced back in. Pinkie jumped up happily as well. "YAY PARTY TIME!!!" She quickly brought out the cake from the kitchen, a huge chocolate cake, Perry's personal favorite. It was a three tier, chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, decorated with chocolate candies and chocolate sprinkles. "All right Perry, activate the cake distribution system!" "Roger that!" Perry let Catacomb go and fumbled around in his pocket. Catacomb and the others watched cusiously as he pulled out a small rectangular piece of metal with a red button on it. The button had a skull and crossbones decorated on it, causing much concern from Catacomb. He tried to stop his friend, but Perry was too quick. He pushed down the button. Everything happened in slow motion. The most noticeable thing was a loud bang coming from the cake. The cake's size grew greatly suddenly, and before long, the cake itself could be described as having erupted. The pieces went every which way, hitting guests and walls. Furniture and friends alike were coated with the yummy confectionary. Everyone stood there stunned, not a single person capable of reacting. The room was quite soon after, almost for what could pass as an eternity. Finally Perry spoke, giggling slightly. "I think we used too much gun powder. What do you think Pinkie?" She stood there quiet as everyone waited for a response. Finally, licking around her lips and tasting the cake that had just recently detonated, she said with a straight face. "You can use too much gunpowder?" It might have been the situation, the atmosphere, or just the people, but everyone started laughing. Even Rarity, who almost went into shock at her now ruined dress, let out a giggle, the silliness of her friend too much to even keep her down. "Well everyone..." Catacomb spoke, completely iced over in the front from head to toe. "I guess the cake is on the house." ---------- ---------- ---------- The party went off without a hitch, with the exception of the cake incident. Everyone still had fun despite it though. The hours passed and the sun started to set, causing the tired party goers to depart slowly. The numbers dwindling down, to just the usual gang, including both Perry and Catacomb. Everyone offered to help Pinkie and Perry clean up after the party, even though they insisted they would be fine. Catacomb, on the other hand, sat back and relaxed. He did what he called 'constructive directing' from a nice chair across the room. Ignoring the glares from everyone, Catacomb sat back lazily, enjoying the relaxing day. He closed his eyes, dozing off slightly. Catacomb was shocked when his little nap was abruptly stopped by the feeling that most definitely felt like a pie being shoved into his face. The reaction, in turn, caused Catacomb to lean back, tipping the chair and doing a backwards summersault into the wall behind him. As the pie dripped off his face, he regained his vision and watched as the culprit, a chuckling Perry, held another pie in his hand with all the girls watching quietly. Everyone was slightly worried, thinking that Catacomb might have hurt himself. He stood up and smiled. "Anyone got any whipped cream?" Pinkie responded with another pie tin, filled up with the desired product, and threw it at Catacomb, who gladly accepted the fate of his face. Everyone couldn't help but laugh now, as the new pie tin slowly slid off, Catacomb licking around the edges of his lips. "You can't have pie without whipped cream!" He said happily, taking a finger and licking off more. Catacomb looked over at the girls, smiling innocently. "Anyone else want a taste?" He said chuckling. "Ooh me!" Pinkie said as she rushed towards him. Perry grabbed the back of her dress, holding her back as she tried to rush towards Catacomb. "Down, Pinkie. That is exactly what the slacker wants. Cata, go get yourself cleaned up please." Perry said, slightly irked. These were his friends, and he would rather not subjugate them to Catacombs lechery if at all possible. Catacomb sighed and went into the kitchen to wash up. Catacomb came out of the kitchen, looking around the room. Everyone was getting their things together as they prepared to leave to their homes. Perry waited for Catacomb to walk him back to the house, and also to keep an eye on him. Catacomb sighed as he walked towards Perry. "Thanks again for the party, Pinkie." Catacomb said to the host. "It was nothing, silly. Everyone deserves to have a celebration every now and then." Pinkie responded happily. Catacomb nodded and walked out, followed by an unusually silent Perry. As soon as they were out of earshot, Perry started to speak. "Catacomb, we need to have a talk." he spoke quietly. Catacomb knew better then to act normally in this situation, so he looked over at Perry. "I came here to enjoy myself and relax. I don't need you acting like a watchdog." Catacomb responded quite bitterly. "These ladies are my friends. I don't really care what you do with who, but leave them out of it. They are great people, and you would just ruin their lives." Perry spoke coldly. "They are big girls and can make up their own minds. You don't need to play guardian with them. If they want to become food for me, it is their choice." Catacomb said, not a hint of caring in his voice. He only barely managed to dodge Perry's left hook, grinning slightly. "Oh did I make the big bad Perry angry?" "Catacomb, I will say this once. You do anything to break their hearts, and I will smash your head..." The two stared at each other for several seconds, Catacomb reaching into his coat. "If you want to go a round, I am always up for it." Catacomb grinned. Perry watched in astonishment as he had seen Catacomb pull out his Rune Gun. "Are you retarded!? Put that away before you hurt someone!" Perry said, keeping his distance. "I respect you, Perry. I really do. I would also rather not fight you, because I have seen what you can do. But I will make myself very clear to you. I do not need a watchdog, a keeper, or any of that crap. I would prefer if we could be friends, but I will not change myself just because you say so." Catacomb made his intentions very clear by pulling the hammer back on the gun. The air was silent, as if even the wind was holding its breath, waiting for an outcome. The quite was suddenly interrupted by a frying pan to the back of Perry's head. He fell forwards, stumbling slightly, gazing back at his attacker. "Toes twitchy, nose itchy, and sides stitchy." The voice said, wearing a pink dress. She looked over at Catacomb, who only watched in complete bewilderment as she looked over at him. "Don't fight! When friends fight, it makes people sad." The voice belonged to Pinkie Pie. Perry turned and looked over at her, and then at Catacomb. She held her trusty frying pan close, not expecting both of them to burst out laughing. Catacomb put the revolver away and walked over to Perry, wrapping his arms around him. For what could be the first time in Equestrian history, Pinkie Pie was lost. "I...ummm...what?" Both Perry and Catacomb sighed and decided to start from the beginning. "Perry and I, we have a strange friendship..." Catacomb started to speak. "Cata and I, on more than one occasion, have tried to kill each other. Once apon a time, he was actually one of my marks. The tricky little bastard here evaded and eluded me for almost a week straight. It got to the point where I actually respected him for it." Perry spoke to the woman, who just listened and hugged the frying pan. "Finally when I could no longer hide, I fought back. After five hours, neither one of us had even taken a hit. Celestia noticed this, and after an interesting conversation, I was invited into the T.E.S.T. team, with full amnesty and a pardon for my crimes. I don't get paid nearly as much as those others, but I get my own rewards in return." "So...you two are friends...because you try to hurt each other...and can't..." Pinkie said, trying to understand it herself. Perry and Catacomb nodded. "But you seriously wanted to hurt Cata..." "Yup. It has actually gotten fairly normal. The prick's attitude gets on my last nerves." Perry said as if it was common knowledge. "I deny nothing." Catacomb said casually. "On a side note, I promise I will behave. But I won't not be me, deal?" "Deal." Perry responded. "Say, want to get a drink? I know this nice bar. The bartender is a great fellow. Wonderful to talk to." "Sure, though you can talk. I got work to do." Catacomb grinned as they walked off towards the bar leaving a confused Pinkie standing their holding a frying pan. Applejack walked up to her, having left shortly after she noticed Pinkie go missing. "Ya alright there, Pinkie? Ya kinda wandered off." Applejack asked. She looked curiously at the pan in Pinkie's hands. "What are ya doin with that frying pan?" "I don't know, Applejack. I just don't know." Pinkie said as she wondered towards Sugarcube Corner. "Ya don't know? Pinkie wait!" Applejack went after her trying to figure out the reason for the confusion. "What do ya mean ya don't know?" "I thought they were being mean, but they were being nice by being mean, which meant to them that they were being all friendly, and my head hurts..." Pinkie said quickly, leaving Applejack to now ponder the strange turn of events that had occurred. "Wait, ya mean Perry and Cata? They seemed friendly enough." "That's the problem!" Pinkie yelled out. Applejack stood there confused now. "So...it's a problem that Cata and Pears are friends?" "No! It's a problem that they are friends, not that they are friends!" Pinkie stated. Applejack just stared for a second, trying to figure out what her friends was talking about. "Ya lost me partner." Applejack finally said. "What's the problem again?" "That's exactly the problem! I have no idea!" Pinkie blurted out, before walking into the bakery. Applejack couldn't have been more lost than if she was dropped into the middle of the Everfree blindfolded. "I need a drink..." she said to herself, making her way towards both Perry and Catacomb. Maybe they could do a better job explaining it than Pinkie could.