The new day was as humble as ever. Brownie Hoof stirred up a sugary substance and drank it down for breakfast. "What do I have to do today?" He mumbled, staring in a mirror. "Nothing special," Brownie Hoof assumed, already taking things for his stand. Brownie Hoof took a brownie or two, and then put up a stand outside like always. His first customer came an hour later, being Twilight.
"Oh hi Brownie Hoof, my assistant Spike wanted a brownie and didn't have enough bits or energy to get it. He has a free day, so I came to get his brownie. She put her hoof in her backpack and retrieved two bits. "One brownie cold, please." Twilight asked, putting the bits on the counter.
Brownie hoof traded the bits for a cold brownie, and trotted off the fetch another bucket. He put it in his mouth and chomped on it, dumping the contents into a square compartment. He put the empty bucket down and admired his work. "Perfect," He mumbled, with a new compartment of brownies.
Business was casual and smooth, the earnings small but good enough. Brownie Hoof had to travel to the store for a new backpack. His mark would definitely cost extra. His current backpack had a hole in it, and was tattered in several places. There wasn't even a mark on it anymore.
Apparently, someponies had the same idea as Brownie Hoof. As in, there was a giant line to the counter. Somehow, he managed to get to the front quickly. Maybe because Brownie Hoof was dreaming of a renewed backpack.
Brownie Hoof was brought in the back where several artists started painting his cutie mark, making him turn a couple times.
Pinkie Pie was there, too. "Ooh! You came here too!" She started, Brownie Hoof drowning her voice in his head. Applejack came into his vision and he stopped for a second to hear her.
"Ah'm guessin' ya'll be having problems with miss Pinkie here," Applejack guessed, jabbing her elbow at Pinkie Pie. "Ooh I hear fun!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, grabbing a new backpack and dashing away, leaving behind the bits.
Her artists split the equal bits, and they strolled into the lounge for employees. "I hear they're serving chocolate beans!" An artist spoke, running into the lounge.
Applejack was already gone by the time Brownie Hoof's backpack was finished. It was a brown roughly textured bag, sealed with an emblem resembling Brownie Hoof's cutie mark. Brownie Hoof payed, and walked out of the store, happy with his new product. A unicorn had magically dried it at the store, so it was good to go.
His first stop was Sugarcube Corner, where he bought a muffin for Fluttershy, staying away from Pinkie Pie.
Brownie Hoof's second stop was a bookstore to buy a book so he had something to do before the couch.
Brownie Hoof's third stop was Fluttershy's cottage to hand her the treat. Luckily the muffin was still hot, and Fluttershy accepted it gratefully, saying, "Oh. Uh, you didn't have to..."
Brownie Hoof was back home as quick as Rainbow Dash could fly. He read his new book, and reread it. It was about animals, specifically reptiles. It was good enough, and Brownie Hoof hit the couch.
Another day passed, and Brownie Hoof hadn't had anything special to do.
Until Princess Celestia, from Canterlot, Brownie Hoof winced, came to town. Brownie Hoof watched from the roof of his house as Princess Celestia spoke with Twilight and her friends.
Princess Celestia made a speech about Twilight and friendship or something, and then everyone around her left. The Princess was flapping her wings toward Brownie Hoof, but then she teleported next to him. Brownie Hood was staring glumly at his hay roof, not able to acknowledge her.
Princess Celestia nudged Brownie Hoof, and he lifted his head to see her. He laid down in allegiance, and stood up again. "
"I understand you've been, as I know, bending the ways of your friendships. I hear you broke one of Fluttershy's strange stares, which almost got me to look away, too. Also, I presume from Applejack that you put some Timberwolves to smoke? Ah, and Applejack tells me you're another fine, how do I say this, Apple-kicker."
Brownie Hoof nodded, and Princess Celestia continued to speak.
"You should feel proud of yourself, young one. I must now go, but you shall continue to do...things. Maybe then you will discover what that strange cutie mark means," Princess Celestia teleported into her ride, and she was off to Canterlot.
Somepony cracked a branch behind him, and a leaf crackled.
"Rainbow!" Applejack whispered, attracting Brownie Hoof's attention.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, loudly enough for Brownie Hoof.
"Oh for Celestia's sake get off his roof," Applejack yelled, making Brownie Hoof jump.
Rainbow Dash saw Brownie Hoof and burst into laughter. Brownie Hoof rolled her off the roof and Applejack caught her and set her down to keep laughing.
Brownie Hoof saw that Princess Celestia had left five bits and a ticket to that Gala.
"Greatsz," Brownie Hoof managed to mutter, the bits in his mouth. Brownie Hoof pushed his ticket off the roof and went to get it when he was down the ladder. He rolled away Rainbow Dash and went into his house.
A brownie from the oven and a drink of apple juice later, Brownie Hoof was on his couch and tucking himself to sleep. A long night's nap is what he needed. There would be things to decide for tomorrow and the day after, but for now he could rest in peace.
Like Brownie Hoof planned, the next day was the chaos of going to the store and buying some good fashion that Rarity would approve of.
Of course, to do that, Rarity would have to be there. "Oh dear, that just looks hideous on you! I'm going to teach this artist how to sew... But nevermind that, let us go on our search for your new clothing," Rarity muttered, looking around the fancy store, bringing up new items.
"This one looks absolutely adorable on you!" Rarity stated, moving Brownie Hoof in front of a mirror for the fiftieth time.
"Uh, yeah..." Brownie Hoof replied, Rarity changing the way it looked more than just a couple times.
'It' was a black tuxedo complete with the collar and all. It looked like nothing to Brownie Hoof, too.
"But I may have to make some changes to it at my Boutique. No charge since it's for a special event," Rarity added, going out of Brownie Hoof's way for him to change.
When he was done, Rarity straightened the tuxedo, and sighed. "This is going to be a lot of work, but don't fret, I'll get it done," She muttered, mostly to herself.
"Thanks," Brownie Hoof spoke, leaving the room with Rarity.
"Oh yes, we would like to buy this for whatever the price?" Rarity asked the unicorn pony at the counter, who asked for fifty bits.
Rarity and Brownie Hoof pooled their bits and came up with 50 bits mostly from Rarity. They bought the tuxedo and Rarity brought it home with her. Brownie Hoof could almost hear her saying "Oh, you poor thing," to the tuxedo if he just strained his ear.
At his home Brownie Hoof had absolutely nothing he needed to do. It was sunset, not a good time to sell more brownies. Outside, was a beautiful scenery of cottages and stores lined up and ponies dancing and singing or doing something, occupied. Brownie Hood had nothing to do until then, so he went outside.
Derpy Hooves was carrying a package in circles above him, and Rainbow Dash was sleeping on a rooftop of hay. Applejack was in town with her little sister, Applebloom.
"Howdy sugarcube! This is Applebloom and we've been looking for Pinkie Pie. Have ya'll seen her lately?" Applejack asked, and her sister waved.
"Applejack, me, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle need our cake now!" Applebloom groaned, frowning at Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof saw Pinkie Pie in plain sight. "She's on the err... roof over there?" Brownie Hoof answered, pointing with a hoof.
"Well alrighty, if you say so. Im going to get a ladder now," Applejack told Brownie Hoof, looking at the direction of his hoof. Pinkie Pie was up there, waking up Rainbow Dash.
"Pinkeh Pie!" Applejack yelled, trotting off with Applebloom.
Brownie Hoof went off in a random direction until he encountered a disco. He bought himself a ticket and went inside to hear club music and Vinyl Scratch was playing it. Brownie Hoof had a great time, but not too much fun was had. Just enough to comfort him for a night.
At home Brownie Hoof set himself up for a long day at that Gala. When Brownie Hoof was done he tucked himself into his couch, flipping over the cushions and the blanket again. Brownie Hoof smelled it, and he was going to have to laundry them soon.
A long night Brownie Hoof had, twisting and turning about that Gala thing. Brownie Hoof was thinking about what he would have to do, and the harder Brownie Hoof thought, the less answers he got. What he ended up with was a mystery, and Brownie Hoof was going to have to ask someone to what he thought was you-know-what.
The next day was such a rush it was a daytime nightmare. Rarity had handed Brownie Hoof back the finished product and wished him good luck, he ate another brownie, and his stand was set up. Then all that memory came crashing down during the Gala.
"Shoot," Brownie Hoof muttered, already in the palace where the Gala was taking place. He had just needed more time. That was it, he just needed time. "Why?" He asked the world, staring at the ground. When he looked up, Brownie Hoof was in the garden outside. It was quiet and peaceful, until Fluttershy stomped by, with leaves and twigs in her hair. "
Come to Fluttershy little animals!" She mumbled, the garden animals retreating. "Oh dear," She whispered, stepping closer to the animals.
After an hour of back and forth between Fluttershy and the animals, Brownie Hoof gave up on watching. "Fluttershy, what are you doing?"
Fluttershy, who didn't see Brownie Hoof, jumped and yelled "Eep!" which scared the animals and they hid. "Oh Brownie Hoof, I um, didn't see you there..." Fluttershy whispered, focusing her attention on Brownie Hoof instead of the animals. "Can you um, help me with these animals? I mean, if you want," Fluttershy muttered, talking rapidly to cover up her question.
Brownie Hoof laughed, and agreed to help. His plan was to lure them with food. When Fluttershy told him she had tried that, he corrected himself. "A lot of food," He mumbled, writing it down on a paper. Fluttershy stayed to watch the animals so they didn't get away.
"Howdy Brownie Hoof! Ya here to buy an apple treat?" Applejack asked hopefully, showing off her product.
"Yea," Brownie Hoof answered, putting down half the bits in his tuxedo pockets. "Give me all you got for these bits," He added, looking behind him just to check if Fluttershy had the animals covered. Applejack gave him an apple pie, and Brownie Hoof dashed away to where he came from.
"I wonder what's got him in such a hurry," Applejack muttered, putting away the bits into a large, empty trunk.
"Fluttershy!" Brownie Hoof whispered, searching for Fluttershy.
"Oh, did you bring the food?" Fluttershy mumbled, right behind Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof turned around, nodded, and they went to work.
A few mishaps later, Fluttershy and Brownie Hoof had lured the animals to the bait.
Fluttershy stepped closer to them, and quietly mumbled some things to the animals that Brownie Hoof couldn't hear. Seconds later, Fluttershy was making sure the creatures shared the food, and they were listening. Fluttershy whispered something to her newfound friends, and she flew happily over to Brownie Hoof. "Oh, thank you for making this the best night ever!" She muttered in his ear, enveloping him in a warm hug. Fluttershy went back to her animals to talk and have fun.
Brownie Hoof left the garden to actually go inside the Gala. He was wrong to go in there, and be tortured. Brownie Hoof winced as he watched every other pony dancing with a partner. He was doomed to slump in that corner of the wall and wait.
Luckily after a torturing hour somepony, a mare, came to Brownie Hoof. To his surprise it was Derpy Hooves. At least he though she was heading toward him, because she walked right next to Brownie Hoof. His suspicions were confirmed when she turned to face him. "Do you want to you-know-what?" Derpy Hooves asked, clumsily turning in circles.
Brownie Hoof bit his lower lip, and he acknowledged what she had asked him. The you-know-what part really softened him. Brownie Hoof nodded, and he fixed their arms to adjoin.
Next thing Brownie Hoof knew, he was on the floor, in the position for a slow dance. "Er, this is a slow dance, right?" Brownie Hoof asked, following the cues in the music. Derpy Hooves nodded and took a rose out of nowhere. "It's Derpy time!" She whispered in Brownie Hoof's ear, taking his hoof for a strange out-of-nowhere tango.
An hour later, and Brownie Hoof was exhausted. Same with Derpy Hooves, who brought two drinks of punch. "So what's your name again?" Derpy Hooves questioned, drinking up her share of punch.
"Brownie Hoof. It's Brownie Hoof," Brownie Hoof answered, quickly adding, "But you can call me Brownie alone if you want,"
"I see you have a taste for treats, too, erm, Brownie!" Derpy Hooves spoke, fidgeting in her pockets to find a muffin. She nibbled on it, and had it devoured in a minute.
Brownie Hoof sat there, bored. "I could top that," He absently murmured, loud enough for Derpy Hooves to hear.
"Brownie Hoof, did you just challenge me to a devouring contest?" Derpy Hooves asked, hooves near her hips.
It was close enough for Brownie Hoof, who absently muttered "Yes," to himself.
Minutes later, both Derpy Hooves and Brownie Hoof had plates with their favorite foods on them.
Brownie figured out what happened, but it was too late. "Go!" Derpy Hooves yelled, already starting.
Brownie Hoof was done in two seconds flat, devouring his brownies in two bites.
Derpy Hooves's jaw dropped, with her muffins halfway done. When she fixed herself up, Derpy Hooves politely asked, "How'd you do that?" Almost like nothing had just happened.
Brownie Hoof answered, "I just really like brownies," And shrugged as to prove his point.
Derpy Hooves wasn't going to relax until she had answers. She walked next to Brownie Hoof and turned to barely see his face due to cross-eyes. "How did you do that?" She asked, wobbling Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof felt dizzy, and didn't say a word until his vision came to focus. "I...don't...know." He murmured, putting his hoof on his forehead.
"Tell me!" Derpy Hooves yelled, making Brownie Hoof jump.
"What am I supposed to tell you! I probably just like brownies more than you like muffins!" Brownie Hoof retorted, slamming his hoof on the floor before them.
Derpy Hooves realized that Brownie Hoof might be right, and she laid off a lot more yelling. "Alright, but I have to start training on muffins later," Derpy Hooves spoke, finishing the conversation.
The mares and stallions that were standing before them left to start dancing again, every once in a while giving Derpy Hooves and Brownie Hoof glares.
"What's wrong with them?" Brownie Hoof asked, drinking a fresh cup of punch.
Derpy Hooves shrugged, and answered, "I just don't know what went wrong," While also drinking her share of punch, and a muffin from the snack table.
"Me either," Brownie Hoof agreed, relaxing in his chair. He spotted Rarity acting rudely to a stallion. Whom, was acting just as rudely to her. Brownie Hoof asked Derpy Hooves if he could be away for a second and Derpy Hooves replied with a nod.
"Rarity, what are you doing?" Brownie Hoof asked, surprising the white unicorn, who told him she was running away from 'that monstrosity' and pointed at a stallion.
"His name is Prince Blueblood but he's nothing like a prince!" Rarity muttered, glaring at Prince Blueblood.
"My best night ever is ruined!" Rarity moaned, teleporting her fainting couch under her.
"Um..." Brownie Hoof murmured, patting Rarity's back while she lay on the couch. "Maybe it isn't too late for uh, someone else?" He muttered, looking around for an excuse to leave her.
"You're right," Rarity spoke, formally adjusting her clothes. "I will make this the best night ever if it kills me!" She finished, triumphantly marching off to find a new man.
Brownie Hoof was glad he didn't have to go into bad circumstances, which meant Brownie Hoof would have to dance again. "Phew," He mumbled, going back to his seat with Derpy Hooves.
Brownie Hoof looked at Derpy Hooves's dress for the gala, which he hadn't wanted to look at earlier. Due to the circumstances of being tired, and bored at the same time made him look. Of course, it was decorated with muffins. Brownie Hoof didn't really care about the details, after all he knew it was by Rarity. Absently, he spoke, "D'you want to go outside?"
Derpy Hooves was listening, because after all, wasn't she supposed to respect the stallion that answered her invite? "Uhm, sure," She answered, unknowing that Brownie Hoof hadn't asked her, specifically.
Brownie Hoof wasn't expecting for Derpy Hooves to hear that, so it was hard to relax, again. Brownie Hoof had to lead her outside because he was the one that asked, and then start a friendly conversation. He was in the garden with her, because Fluttershy was gone, somewhere with her befriended animals.
When Brownie Hoof noticed that Derpy Hooves was just as tired as him, he went inside the Gala to get some drinks to keep them awake. The unfortunate part was that part of it could make them dizzy. It also could keep them in a strange spirit of joy, and maybe made them forget things. Like, of course, their pride.
Brownie Hoof took a lead, and asked Derpy Hooves to dance. They danced for about thirty minutes saying nothing, and may or may not have been affected by that drink, because it was half empty. Then Brownie Hoof fetched the bitten rose out of Derpy Hooves's pocket and bit it, while still trying to move in tune.
Derpy Hooves smiled weakly and kept going until they had to stop when the music went off. "That's all you got?" Derpy Hooves asked, confirmed to be affected by the drink after all, or maybe she was just too weak to stop.
Brownie Hoof pulled her into another invisible song, and inevitably they kissed. Under the spell of the drink they danced and showed interest in each other. Brownie Hoof and Derpy Hooves kept at it until they just had to stop.
"Dang, I had a good night," Brownie Hoof spoke, slurring the words, which were still understood.
"Same here," Derpy Hooves mumbled, moving closer.
They shared one last moment of that spell until they had to leave, for the Gala was long over. Derpy Hooves flapped her wings, clumsily flying away, and Brownie Hoof took a train. When they both got home, each muttered under their breath, "What just happened," Before they got to bed, or in Brownie Hoof's case, couch, and leaped into a deep sleep to be awakened to fright the next day.