As the group walked through Ponyville, Fluttershy pointed out all the important places such as Sugarcube Corner, the Ponyville market, the Hospital, and even some of the houses that ponies such as Carrot Top, Minute, and Lily Bloom lived in.
As they walked, Twilight bombarded Shade with questions. "So what do you do for a living Shade?" she asked.
"I'm an artist." Shade replied. "I make all kinds of art, from simple sketches to musical pieces. But mostly I paint."
Twilight cocked her head to the side. "So which is your special talent?"
"Painting. If you want, I can show them to you sometime." Shade answered, smiling at Twilight warmly.
Twilight blushed and looked down at her hooves. "Sure. I'll look at my schedule and see if I can make time."
After visiting a couple more places, they decided to stop by Sugarcube Corner to get something to cure the sweet tooth Rainbow Dash mentioned she had. When they opened the door though, they were greeted by an explosion of confetti and a blast that sounded like a cannon, throwing them all backwards. As they untangled themselves from the mass of limbs and confused ponies, Pinkie jumped out yelling "SURPRISE!!!!" wearing a motley assortment of party favors like googly eye glasses, a arrow-through-the-head gag hat, and seven different colored noise makers in her mouth.
"I think you went a little overboard there, Pinks." Dash said, coughing up confetti.
Pinkie blew her noise makers and laughed at her friends shocked faces as they all stood up. "Throwing a party for a new friend calls for nothing but my biggest Pinkie Pie Instant Party Cannon!"
"Ah'm pretty sure Ah just swallowed half o' the party." Applejack said, trying to separate herself from the rest of the pile.
As Shade pulled himself from the group, he started laughing at the sudden surprise. "That was awesome! I can't remember the last time someone scared me that good."
"Well, duh!" Pinkie said, her face inches from Shade's. "That's because Manehattan doesn't have Pinkie Pie to throw parties!"
Shade backed up, blushing at how close the pink pony was just seconds ago. Unfortunately Rainbow Dash noticed him blushing before he could regain his composure.
"What's up Shade?" she said, smiling maliciously. "You got a fever or something." Dash inched closer with each word until she was almost muzzle to muzzle with Shade.
Twilight moved closer to Shade as well. "You do look a little red. Maybe he's tired from his long journey."
Shade felt his face heat up even more as the lavender unicorn looked him in the eyes, her violet irises making his heart beat faster and faster.
"Ahh, quit teasin' the poor colt." Applejack said in his defense, snickering despite her firm tone.
"But I wasn't teasing him. He really does look feverish." Twilight said, confused.
"I'm sure it's because he isn't used to having so many pretty mares so close to him." Rainbow said, booping him on the nose with her hoof before turning around and going inside the giant pink and white building.
"Come on now, let's git inside before Pinkie starts roastin' marshmallows over his head." Applejack said with a chuckle.
"Did somepony say marshmallows?" Pinkie said, dressed in pirate clothing and standing atop a party cannon packed to bursting point with sugary white cylinders.
* * * *
As far as Shade could tell, Pinkie's party was the best one he'd ever been to. Those ponies in Manehattan were too sophisticated for his taste and didn't have any taste in color. He'd spent the better part of five years in Manehattan learning all kinds of art from ponies like Ruby Brush and Perfect Pallet. In the time he was there, he visited a lot of parties in the big city, all of which were high class and totally not his type. And after all that up tight stuff, it was good to finally go to an actual party.
After a couple hours of dancing, games, and Rainbow teasing him, they were all tired and ready to head home and settle down.
"So where are you staying while your here Shade?" Twilight asked.
"I'll be staying in an apartment not to far from City Hall. Since I'm low on bits right now I can't afford anything really classy, but after all that fancy living in Manehattan, it'll be nice to live someplace simple." Shade answered.
"Well if yah ever need someplace to stay, we always got an extra room down at Sweet Apple Acres fer guests." Applejack said with a smile.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind if I end up running out of bits before I find a job to keep me up on rent while I'm here." Shade said.
"How long are you staying in Ponyville?" Twilight asked.
"Haven't decided yet. I'm hoping to stay here for a little while, but if push comes to shove and I gotta get back to Manehattan, then I might have to cut the visit short." Shade noticed the worried look on Fluttershy's face and added very quickly "I don't think that'll happen though. I made sure I had enough bits for at least a month."
"Aight well, it's been fun but I think I'm gonna head home now. Gotta get up early tomorrow for work." Rainbow said. Then with a sly grin she added "Later Shade." As she said that she flew over Shade and, flirtingly, she rubbed her back against his. Shade's whole body went rigid as his face turned a deep crimson. Rainbow laughed and flew off to her cloud home before Applejack could give her 'a good talkin' to'.
"Sorry bout that Shade. She's a good girl, but sometimes she gits a little too inta her fun n' games." Applejack said with an apologetic smile.
"It's ok." Shade said, his face still tinged red. "I don't mind a little teasing."
"Ok well, we should probably start getting home. It's pretty late and I'm sure Shade needs his sleep. Plus I have to get up early. Tomorrow is re-shelving day and I want to at least get past 'D' before nightfall." Twilight said as she turned around to start walking back to the Golden Oaks Library.
"Oh yes, I have to get back home and feed all the nocturnal critters. They tend to get a little cranky if I'm late." Fluttershy said.
"I could come and help if you want." Shade offered.
"Oh, that's okay. You should probably check in at the apartment your staying in before the desk closes." She replied.
"Okay then. I'll see you tomorrow." Shade said as he started walking towards his apartment complex.
As he walked away, he could still feel that strange sensation, like something was watching him.