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// At the Studio 
// Story: Too Early, Too Late 
// by Inkarus 
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Painting alone never used to bother Prairie Fire. A white canvas riddled with splashes of color and texture stared at him, dripping ever-so-slightly. The last few months, however, he had been trying something new, and it was starting to make him anxious; How did he know what was right and what was rubbish? He held a brush using his horn, pausing momentarily. I think it's good. Is it good? Is it okay? I think it's stupid. It's horrible. Oh Celestia, what am I THINKING? This is awful! He threw the paintbrush at the wall, splattering it with blue paint, and turned his attention back to the unfinished art piece, preparing to suffer it the same fate, when-

DING!

The bell fixed over the front door rang. A graceful white pony stepped through, saddlepurses over her flank as she pranced into the shop. Rarity. A long time customer. He sighed, defeated, and let go of the canvas he had nearly destroyed. He resisted the urge to shoot it a dirty look, one that said "This isn't over!" and instead, stepped through a purple curtain seperating his home interior and studio from the shop entrance.

"Rarity, what brings such a lovely filly to my humble shop?" A crooked smile forced its way onto his lips, as he attempted to shed his earlier frustration and panic. As expected, she gave a girlish titter and modestly denied his compliment. He didn't miss how she preened as she spoke, however.

" Oh Prairie, darling, I've come to look for a lovely addition to my front room. The decor simply MUST be reinvigorated for the season; Spring is about, and winter must be wrapped up in all facets; Ponies don't look backward, they look FORward! And who else could I come to but Ponyville's finest painter?"

His crooked grin faded a bit, coming to a tired smile instead. "You are too kind, Rarity. But I think I have just what you're looking for."

He turned to a section of the small store that had six bright landscape paintings; With big, swirling brushstrokes, they showed various seasonal images; One showed a spray of cherry blossom trees, one had a regal looking pony with a red ribbon in her hair, sitting in what appeared to be Sweet Apple Orchard, facing away from the viewer, and looking oh-so-mysterious and ladylike, another showed the ocean just before nightfall in warm, muted tones, the big dotted shapes gracing the white surface of the huge orb, and so on. 

Rarity made a pleased squeal and rushed forward to look closer at a few of them, especially the one featuring a pony, entitled "Seeds of Time." The title was on the back, however, else Rarity would have drilled him with questions about the meaning. Instead, she was just happy to trill over his "talent and vision." He stood at her back, staring expressionlessly at the painting even as she complimented him.

"I simply CANNOT see how anypony can paint; I've tried my hoof at it and, well, I won't give you details but I can leave it at this; It was NOT a pretty sight-" She turned to him as she spoke, and was greeted with a smile and clear eyes. Prairie was good at faking. "-but that's not important, what IS important is that I am buying this painting! How much?"

Free. Take it and never let me see that awful thing ever again. In fact, burn it. "One hundred fifty bits."

"Sold! Honestly dear, not that I'm complaining, but I sincerely hope this is some sort of discount you've given me over the past few years. If not, you're quite undervaluing these absolute MASTERPIECES! Society values those who value themselves, after all!" She was still chattering as she followed him to the register, floating the bits over to him, blissfully lost in her own conversation that she was having practically by herself.

Prairie didn't pay attention, mentally still behind the curtain, trying to figure out what had gone so terribly wrong with his recent piece. He passed the painting to her from his magic to hers, and they parted ways; At least, so Prairie Fire assumed. But just before he reached the blissful privacy of his hellish studio, that twittering, feminine voice shot out again. 
His short, spiky green mane seemed somehow frazzled as he turned around to face her, trying to hide his exasperation.

"Yes ma'am?"

"I nearly forgot to mention, darling, but Pinkie Pie is extending an invitation to you for her Spring has Sprung celebration tonight at Sugarcube corner. And I don't mean to push, but... It's not generally an advisable practice to decline attendance to a Pinkie party."

She was right. Prairie slowed his retreat into the back of the store, thinking. Maybe getting away from his art for awhile would allow him to come back with a refreshed perspective? That seemed like a good idea. Being invited to a Pinkie party was an experience he had ever had before, so it seemed that he would be left alone; Nobody there would bother him too much. But he could soak in the social atmosphere, have a few drinks, relax a little, come back home and have a fresh perspective. 

You can't go to parties. That's for normal ponies.

He frowned. How could that be if PINKIE was throwing the party? "Normal" and "Pinkie" didn't belong in the same sentence, much less the same party. His troubling thoughts were interrupted as the bell jingled, marking Rarity's exit. He watched her leave with her regal confidence, and made up his mind. He would go.