Chapter 5: Lone-less Star
I wasn’t quite sure how much time has passed ever since I moved to Ponyville. My days had been pretty much the same by this period: I worked in a part-time job, earned enough bits to survive and then I’d go do anything else for the rest of the day.
I was using my free time to read books that I rented from Golden Oaks Library. I would go there every so often not only to read but also to check how my orthography was doing with Twilight, the unicorn who took care of that place. Yeah, thanks to my muddled memory I forgot even how to freaking write in Equestrian alphabet and I was too embarrassed to go to Ponyville’s school and ask the teacher there. I’m sure Cherilee wouldn’t make fun of my situation, but the idea of having somepony seeing me like that was enough to fluster me.
Anyway I was going back to the library so I could return some books (they were overdue too) and hope to find something else to read. I didn’t have many acquaintances in Ponyville and I sure wasn’t the kind of pony who wanted to make friends all over, I was fine as long as I had work to earn money, food and something to entertain me in my free time.
At the Golden Oaks Library everything was as organized as always, Spike was sweeping the floor and Twilight was cataloging a pile of new books, she was so focused she barely noticed me when I talked to her. While looking at the big pile of books I talked to her, “Twilight,” she answered with a simple hum while cataloging all books in the scroll, “I’m here to return these books.”
“Yes, yes. Please talk to Spike.” she replied rather aloofly not even looking at me.
Spike approached me and sighed. “Forget it, Lone. Twilight is busy selecting, marking, and sorting all those books, she probably didn’t even notice it was you.”
“Now that’s some serious focus,” I said putting the book on another table and the bits for the overdue fee.
“Well, she’s like that when she puts her mind in something,” Spike said while leaning on the broom.
“Then forget I’ve ever said she didn’t take her job seriously,” I said still looking at Twilight.
I was done at the library and prepared to go outside, but then something happened. Something that would change my stay in Ponyville forever. Something I will never forget, because thanks to this something my life took a change I’d never expect.
I walked straight to the exit after taking my leave, Spike told me something so I didn’t notice another pony coming through the door and bumped right into her. Her. A pink pony with pinker mane, my first thought about her was “too much pink.”
I apologized for my carelessness while she massaged her nose, I thought she would scold me, but she didn’t seemed to be the kind of pony that would get angry at this. For some reason she just kept staring at me and after a while that was starting to make me feel really uncomfortable, however before I could say anything, anything at all, she gasped loudly and zoomed faster than lightning outside. I turned back and Spike was chuckling and shrugging.
I could never expect what was waiting for me then, but even if I did, I don’t think it would matter.
That day I worked as a gardener helping in the maintenance of Ponyville’s park, it wasn’t the most thrilling job and I wasn’t very fond of plants either, but the earth pony teaching me (I guess his name was Pine Breeze) told I was doing good handling the plants. Of course I was, I was being paid for that. The day was more tiresome than I thought, I didn’t think handling flowers could be so difficult. After finishing everything and calling it a day I went straight home, I normally would go and pick another book to read, but Twilight was still busy with her cataloging and I didn’t want to disturb her.
After an entire day working all I could think was to get in my bed and revise the texts I had written to see how my orthography was doing before writing my first report to Princess Celestia, I didn’t want to write wrong characters and send to her risking to look even more “clueless” that I already seemed to be in that fateful day. After that I would get some well-deserved resting and ready myself for another day in Ponyville.
Boy, I could never be so wrong when I thought my day was finished and I’d get some rest.
I opened the door to my cottage and sighed relived, then suddenly I saw a bunch of ponies I had never met before yelling “surprise!” to me, and how surprised I was. Maybe surprised wasn’t the best way to describe me back then, I guess the word “scared” would fit better.
The first thing I did there was to yell asking what in the holy name of Celestia was happening there making even the music go dead.
Alright, some might say I was being unfriendly or even hostile, but honestly how would you react if a bunch of strange ponies broke into your house, your safe haven, your sanctuary and threw a party out of blue?
While people muttered some commentaries here and there staring at me somepony went to talk to me coming with a distinctive hopping sound and a grin that I’ll never forget. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie! How d’you like your welcome party?” she said happily even though I was visibly taken by anger.
“What’s the meaning of this?!” I asked again raspier, but she didn’t seem to notice or care and kept her smile.
“Well, duh! It’s a welcome party! When I saw in the library I noted I didn’t know you then I was like *GASP* because I know everypony in Ponyville, well except for, duh, you! So I figured you were new here and then I thought you must be SO lonely and decided to throw a surprise party so you could meet everypony and everypony meet you so you wouldn’t be alone! Because being alone is really, really sad and sad is bad!” she said everything without taking a single breath, “What’s your name by the way?” she asked with a huge grin in her face in contrast with to my scowl.
“Lone Star and You should’ve asked BEFORE breaking into my house and throwing a party!”
“Lone! So that means you’re lonely! Now you don’t have to worry about being alone, Starry! You have everypony here! You should name yourself Lone-less Star now!” Pinkie said hopping and giggling around me.
That was the last straw for me, I left my own cottage slamming the door furious about that unnecessary party. Not only she had used my house for a silly party as she kept making fun of my me. I stood outside my cottage ranting by myself, I didn’t want to leave my house full of strangers unguarded taking the risk of having something stolen or broken. Although I was outside I could hear some commentaries from other ponies enjoying the party.
“Whoa, did you see that pony? He nearly ruined the mood!”
Sure, let a crazy pink pony throw a party out of blue at your house when all you wanted is to sleep and relax, let’s see how you would react on that.
“Whatever, it’s all good now. Why did Pinkie throw this party again?”
Seriously? SERIOUSLY? They were partying and did not even know the reason? Good Celestia...
“Who cares, whatever the subject is all parties she organize is sure to be the best!”
Face hoof, face hoof, face freaking hoof.
“You said it!”
I waited outside pouting, scowling, ranting and mumbling kicking whatever I found in my way trying to spout my anger.
The party still kept going for some time and eventually ponies started to come out of my cottage to talk more and play games, I decided to go inside since now it was much calmer and picked something to eat. Somehow my furniture was still standing and everything seemed to be intact. I sighed in relief and enjoyed a brief moment of peace, a moment that I could swear it was ruined by my thought as Pinkie Pie found me and yelled “Finally!” and dragged me outside saying that everypony was waiting for me.
Standing by my side she presented me literally to everypony who was in the party, from earth ponies to unicorns and the pegasi, and I was feeling really uncomfortable with the situation I was at. This lasted until I saw a unicorn who stirred my mind, I tried to focus on whatever I was trying to remember but Pinkie’s pushing made me lose my concentration. I tried to remember her name, but there were so many I couldn’t, at least I had her coat and mane memorized.
Anyway that simple thing really improved my mood for some reason and I actually started to enjoy the party. I played some games and talked to ponies (who still didn’t know the reason for the party) telling them how I end up in that town and met some interesting folks, but I couldn’t find that unicorn again. Pinkie saw me finally having fun and started singing much to the enjoyment of some and annoyance of others.
The party ended on a high note and everypony left satisfied. But a single pony had to stay there because he lived there and he would have to clean all the mess from the party. Before I could start Pinkie Pie appeared again out of freaking nowhere scaring me colorless.
“Heck and hay! Would you stop doing that?!” I yelled gasping for air as she laughed and helped me get on feet.
“I’m just that glad you enjoyed my par-tay!” she bouncing in front of me.
“Yeah, I guess I actually did somehow,” I started picking all the trash in my garden as Pinkie hopped around, “Not because of the surprise, though.”
“Awww,” she sighed and stop hopping, “But I did it especially for you!”
“Breaking into my house and putting a bunch of strange ponies inside... That’s not exactly a good way to make me a surprise,” as I finished talking she sulked saddened.
“But I did it so you could meet everypony... I didn’t want you to be alone, Lone, uh, Lone-less,” Pinkie said much less enthusiastic.
“My name is Lone Star, not Lone-less nor Starry,” I said still a little upset, “Pinkie, listen, I really appreciate it, but I didn’t need this. I really don’t feel good being in a place with a lot of ponies, especially when I am the main reason of everypony being there.”
When I turned to see Pinkie Pie she was poking the ground and mumbling something as if she was trying to find words to answer me, I could feel she was on the verge of tears. That face made me feel the worst pony that ever walked on Equestria. I could feel guilt crushing me, I didn’t think Pinkie Pie was that sensible.
I walked towards her pondering carefully what words I would use. “Sorry, hey, I’m really sorry,” I sat beside her, “Pinkie, it’s just that I’m, uh, not used to have ponies actually trying to befriend me,” I spoke mildly embarrassed.
“I noticed that. Is it because you are Lone-ly Star?” Pinkie said looking at me a little bit more animated.
I grunted and tapped my head, “My name has nothing to do with my personality.” Well mostly anyway.
“But you like to be alone!” Pinkie said upset.
“Everypony likes to be alone sometimes, especially when they come back from a busy day,” I told her while tapping her forehead.
“Everypony who want to be always alone says something like that as an excuse!” Pinkie exclaimed, “Sometimes a nice somepony just need a little pushy-push to meet other nice ponies!”
That sounded weird, but meaningful. I wondered if she was always like that. Anyway it made me laugh more in embarrassment than fun.
After she cheered up Pinkie helped me clean my garden and my cottage, she claimed she knew everypony in Ponyville and cited several ponies names and birthdays, I wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth, though.
We were almost finished when Pinkie was spreading the tablecloth and noted something on the shelf, she went and picked whatever it was and put on the table, she called me immediately after peeking on the cover for a while.
“What is it, Pinkie. Whoa, where did you find this?” I was surprised, how I didn’t notice those things before?
“It was in your house, but it’s so dusty!” she said blowing the dust off the book and the small chest.
“I didn’t even notice it was there,” I scratched my head, “Wait a minute, were you snooping around?”
Pinkie giggled a little embarrassed, “It looked funny!” she tried to explain, “What if it was something dangerous or spooky?” she waved her hooves.
“Another reason you shouldn’t have messed around,” I said still looking at the old stuff laid on my table, “It must be from the old owner of this cottage... I think they forgot when moving from here or something.”
“Aren’t you going to take a look?” Pinkie said eager to open the small chest.
I tried to open the chest but it was locked, the book was nothing but a REALLY old blank journal. I thought on forcing the chest or even breaking it, but it was so well made, so perfectly crafted I just couldn’t bring myself to break it, besides I think Pinkie would freak out if I did it in front of her.
“Oh gosh, what a bummer. Just boring stuff.” Pinkie Pie laid her head on the table disappointed.
Pinkie helped finish everything and went back to Ponyville. She certainly was a curious mare, trying to cheer up a stranger and make him socialize with other ponies. To be honest at first I thought she was annoying, but if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t have ever found two things that would help me a lot in the future: the chest and the journal.
But there was something else I was feeling I did forget. I decided not to think about it, it was a very strange day for me and all I wanted to do was to rest.