//------------------------------// // Inviting Pinkie Pie // Story: Fluttershy hosts a Tea Party // by TheAvalonCode //------------------------------// Chapter Two: Pinkie Pie Only a few meters until she reached Ponyville, and Fluttershy felt a familiar sense in her stomach. It was a slight feeling of trepidation, one that she always got when coming to places full of ponies. It wasn't that she was scared of other ponies, or worried she would be attacked; Fluttershy just felt like it was difficult to talk to them, just in case she said the wrong thing and they shouted at her. Just like that griffin Gilda. She shivered at the memory of the loud, terrifying screech. The mare shook her head vigorously to get rid of the dark thoughts. Today, Fluttershy had a mission and she wouldn't let anything stop her. A small voice inside her mind muttered “Unless there's a very mean pony in the way. Then I’ll just go home and hide in a cupboard for a little while.” Fluttershy now stood on the boundary of Ponyville and looked over in the direction of Sugarcube corner. It didn't seem all too busy and there weren't any screaming ponies at all, so it seemed that Pinkie hadn't created a gigantic sponge-and-icing monster like she had last week. Pinkie's response to the accusations had made Fluttershy grin: “Well, I thought that instead of everypony getting all squishy-squashy trying to get into the shop, I would send the cake to them! But I was busy, so I made it get there itself. And it's deeeelicious!” Trotting into town, Fluttershy noted a few young colts and fillies making the best of the warm weather. A number of them were running up and down the streets, playing games and laughing loudly. It made her happy to see everypony enjoying the day. Before she knew it, she was standing before the garish pink door of Sugarcube Corner, which was pushed open by a pair of ponies carrying brown paper bags and looking rather pleased, if a little breathless. Fluttershy stood aside to let them past and briskly went inside the store. Some animalistic instinct told her to duck and as she did so, a large cake with red frosting whizzed over her head, only to be caught in a paper bag that was carried by a stallion with a brown mane. He grunted thanks into the store as he left. As if on cue, A loud and high-pitched voice (which some may brand as obnoxious) cried out. “Oh no! Fluttershy I'm sooo sorry, I didn't see you there” The apologetic pony was none other than Pinkie Pie, the newly appointed head baker and occasional cashier at Ponyville’s cake store. The pink mare seemed a little tired, and a few strands of hair were sticking out of her mane. “I'm so glad to see you! I meant to visit but I've been rushed off my hooves, since the Cakes gave me that promotion! And I was so happy and glad and it was amazing, but I'm really tired now and I want to sleep and Gummy is feeling lonely!” She indicated the toothless alligator that sat upon a pink ball in the corner. Fluttershy sensed that the critter wasn't particularly bothered by its owners business and told Pinkie this. Pinkie shrugged and quickly dashed into the kitchen. She returned with a large green sponge on her head, promptly flipped it into the air and bucked it into the seating area of the store. A mint coloured mare leaped into the air and caught the cake in yet another bag and then left. Fluttershy felt a little nervous with all of the flying baked goods and scooted a little closer to the counter. Pinkie rocketed a few more cakes to the last few ponies then fell to her hindquarters and sighed. “Okay, so that's rush hour done. Sorry Flutters, I am soooo tired right now. What's wrong?” Fluttershy noted that the mare was a little more subdued than usual, likely caused by her exhaustion. “Um… Don't worry Pinkie, you seem worn out so I'll come back later…” As the sentence left her mouth, Pinkie leaped to her hooves and clasped her friend in a tight hug. “Ah! Um… Pinkie, what are you doing?” The baker held on to Fluttershy and grinned “I'm not letting you go until you tell me!” Pinkie was a specialist at hug threats and Fluttershy knew better than to refuse. “Well Pinkie, why are you kicking cake at other ponies?” Pinkie then let go of the Pegasus and frowned. “Is that it? Well actually, it's my brand-new super-special Pinkie Pie serving process! Ever since I got the promotion, I've got so many ponies asking me for desserts that I've been going coco-loco! So I thought to myself, ‘Well Pinkie, how can we make it all faster?’ Then I told myself to stop talking to myself and that's when I made the Sponge Monster, but we saw how that plan went. And then I thought that the serving process was too slow so I said that the ponies would pay me when they order, then I would kick the cake at them and they could then catch it and go! Not only is it fast, but also really fun! My record for cake kicking is 5 at once!” The stream of words flew past Fluttershy, who was still amazed at how fast Pinkie could talk. “Okay… and um… could I have something to drink please?” Pinkie nodded in response and disappeared into the kitchen so fast that it left behind a ghost image. Then, she returned at a speed that would make even Rainbow Dash impressed, this time carrying a cup of hot cocoa. Fluttershy paid for the drink and sat at one of the tables. Before long, her bubble-gum pink friend sat next to her and smiled warmly. Fluttershy had always been glad for Pinkie's friendship. At first, she had found the optimistic pony almost too random and spontaneous, but over the years the two had got closer. Now, she knew that Pinkie always had her friends’ welfare at heart and if there was ever a pony that could make her laugh in a matter of seconds, it would be Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie? I was wondering… would you be able to come to a tea party?” Pinkie gasped and an expression of ecstasy crossed her face. “A tea party? Oh that would be so much fun! Usually, I'm the one organizing all of the parties but it's even more super-fun when someone else throws a party! When is it?” Throughout this tirade, the pink pony was bouncing off her hooves and leaped all around Fluttershy. “I was thinking… maybe this afternoon?” Fluttershy murmured. Pinkie visibly froze, mid-hop. Whilst suspended in the air, she turned her head to look at her demure friend. “This afternoon? As in this afternoon, this afternoon?” She now dropped to the floor and trotted over to Fluttershy. “B…but… I have a lot of orders left over to do for all the other ponies…” Pinkies mane deflated slightly and her coat dulled a shade. “I don't want to miss all of the fun-eriffic fun with all of you…” She sat back down and began to mope. Fluttershy realized that Pinkie was under a lot more stress than she thought and began to worry that she would just make it worse. “Oh, it's okay Pinkie, if you're busy we can always do it another day… I don't want to bother you too much so I'll just go…” The pegasus stood and slowly made her way out, wondering if the other girls would be able to make it. She glanced back and noticed that Pinkie was still sitting at the low table, staring moodily at the woodwork. Just as she left the building, a pink flash whizzed past and came to a halt before her. Pinkie seemed to have brightened somewhat. “No no no no no! I won't spoil your day! I'm going to work super-duper hard to get all of the cakes done lickety-split! Then I'll come to the tea party and even bring some macaroons!” She giggled. “Heehee, Macaroon is a funny word! So don't be all down in the dumps!” The earth pony offered up a bright smile. It was such a warm and caring smile that Fluttershy couldn't help but return it. “Well don't overwork yourself for me Pinkie. But it would be nice to see you there.” Her pink companion practically shone with happiness at the prospect of attending a party and she disappeared into the store, presumably to get to work on those cakes. Fluttershy took a deep breath in and sighed. “That's one down, five to go. Come on Fluttershy, let's go out and seize the day!” Fluttershy tried to remember which of her friend's houses were closest to the cake shop. Applejack? No, Twilight? After a few moments of thought, she decided to head to Rarity's boutique. It was relatively close, and Fluttershy had meant to see her about the spa days anyway. Turning toward the boutique's road, Fluttershy took off at a slow walk, planning to enjoy the pleasant weather whilst it lasted.