//------------------------------//
// 17: Mixed Signals [Comedy] 
// Story: Party Every Day 
// by Esle Ynopemos 
//------------------------------//

((Prompt: One of the Cutie Mark Crusaders ships the other two.))

Sweetie Belle pushed the door open and trudged into Sugarcube Corner. Her head hung low as she dragged her hooves across the tile floor and climbed up onto a stool. She gave a small, exasperated sigh, burying her face in her hooves.

“Code blue! Code blue!” A bubbly voice sounded from the other side of the counter. “Get this filly a double-fudge supreme, stat! And it better have as many sprinkles as you can fit on it!”

Sweetie raised her eyes to see pink hooves slide an overflowing mountain of chocolate and sprinkles in front of her. Though her stomach rumbled, she did no more than poke at the treat. “Hey, Pinkie,” she said.

Pinkie Pie peered over the heap of dessert. “Hey, Sweetie. What's got you so down?”

“I just can't watch it anymore,” Sweetie Belle said.

“Watch what?” Pinkie asked.

“Them.” Sweetie pointed her hoof at the window. Outside in the street, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood shouting at each other. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were nearby, having their own shouting match as well.

“Oh, no!” cried Pinkie.

Sweetie Belle sighed. “I know. I keep trying to tell them to stop it and get along, but it's like they want to be mad at each other or something. They just keep looking for excuses to argue!”

Pinkie Pie looked out the window and rubbed her chin with a hoof. “Hmm. I wonder...”

Sweetie sat up. “What?”

“I wonder if it's 'cause they like each other?”

Sweetie shot the mare a skeptical look. “I think that's the opposite of the problem.”

Pinkie shook her head. “I mean like-like. Sometimes your sister says that when ponies like each other a whole lot, they act like they don't like each other at all!”

“Really?” Sweetie Belle blinked. That didn't make any sense at all, but if Rarity said it, it had to be true. She looked out the window at her friends. Apple Bloom and Applejack both kicked up dust and turned to head back to the farm. Rainbow Dash huffed and flew off, with Scootaloo following along the ground on her scooter.

Sweetie took a spoonful of her sundae and chewed thoughtfully. “Hmm. Do you really think that's it?

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “It might be.”

“But why would they be yelling at each other instead of, you know, calling each other 'shmoopy-doopy' or something?” Sweetie took another bite.

“You know, I don't think Rarity ever explained that part to me,” Pinkie said. “Maybe they don't know that they like each other?”

Sweetie Belle gasped. “So, if we can get them to talk and figure out that they do like each other...”

“...They'll stop acting all grumpy with each other and start getting all cuddly, instead!” Pinkie finished, clapping her hooves excitedly.

Sweetie pushed her stool out. “We gotta go find them!”

Pinkie slid Sweetie back to the counter, shaking her head. “First thing's first,” she said, pushing the sundae toward her. “Nopony but nopony triggers a Code Blue and then just walks out of here without a tummy full of chocolate!”

*

Sweetie Belle swore never to trigger another Code Blue again as she wobbled out of Sugarcube Corner. That sundae had been as big as she was!

“Okay,” she said, turning to Pinkie. “I'm going to Sweet Apple Acres. You get the other one, and we'll meet back here. Then we can get them to admit they like each other, and everything will be all better again.”

Pinkie Pie saluted and bounded off, quickly disappearing into town.

*

“I still don't get what's so important ya gotta drag me out here,” Apple Bloom said, casually adjusting her bow. “Applejack was teachin' me how ta 'pegasus-proof' the windows of the farmhouse.”

“This has got to do with that,” Sweetie Belle said as they drew nearer to Sugarcube Corner. “Maybe you won't need to pegasus-proof anything!” They slowed to a stop in front of the building.

Pinkie rounded the corner. Following in her wake was a yawning Rainbow Dash. “All right, Pinkie,” Dash said. “This better be worth an interrupted nap.”

Sweetie Belle gaped. “Pinkie, I thought you were getting Scootaloo!”

Pinkie Pie threw her hooves in the air. “I thought you were getting Applejack!”