On The Rebound

by AdmiralSassMcAwesome


First Impressions

"What did he say to you? Surely he gave some clue as to what he had decided..."

Twilight and Flash were standing awkwardly outside Twilights quarters, they were supposed to be bidding each other farewell, but neither of them were able to keep their eyes off the couple standing down the hall from them.

Pinkie was perhaps for the first time in her life experiencing the emotion of shyness. She didn't want Joe to leave her this evening without her saying how she felt about him. But for some reason it was very difficult to come out with it now that they had been left alone.

Pinkie scraped her hoof awkwardly against the floor. "Thanks for walking me home." She said quietly.

"Thank you for asking me out tonight. It was actually pretty fun."

Pinkie blushed as she found her date smiling at her.

Neither of them said anything for a moment.

"Pinkie?"

Pinkie brought her eyes up to look fully into Joe's.

"Yes?" She breathed.

He hesitated.

Her eyes were so big. They glistened with expectation and hope. Joe couldn't help letting his jaw drop a little as a billion thoughts descended on him at once. He thought again of the ending of that opera. The way things were going for him, he would end up alone, unloved and in many ways unknown to any of the ponies around him. But then he also thought about why he was in this position. Why was he hesitating?

Her eyes were blue too. A lighter shade though. And not as big. But pretty all the same.

He thought about the Canterlot School for Unicorns, graduating, beginning his apprenticeship. There had been a lot of happy times for Joe over those years. She had been apart of all of it. They had done so much together and gotten so far. But then there were the unhappy memories. There was the memory of him...

Joe couldn't help wondering about Pinkie. Who was to say that it wouldn't all go the same way?

He thought about what Pinkie had said. Even if she hasn't meant it about him it stood true. There was no one to say that Pinkie would or wouldn't do that to him. He had to take a chance. It could be the greatest decision he could ever make.

Or the worst...

Joe had been staring into Pinkie's eyes for so long that it began to make her feel self conscious.

"Joe?" She asked slightly nervous.

Joe shook his head a little, dismissing all those nagging thoughts and memories.

"Sorry about that, I just..." He cleared his throat apprehensively. "I was thinking that maybe you and I should get to know each other a little better."

Pinkie's jaw dropped. She had thought she was going to have to say it. But then what had she been waiting for? Oh never mind!

"That would be so awesome!"

Joe laughed as she started bouncing on the spot.

"Great, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. Thanks again." He moved is if to walk away but a quick shout from Pinkie stopped him.

"Hey, aren't you forgetting something?" She asked with her head slightly tilted, a wry smile on her glowing face.

Joe coughed, slightly uncomfortably as he realised what she was referring to. Celestia, she moves quick!

"Uh, of course." Joe, crinkling up his muzzle, slightly embarrassed leaned in and gave her a gentle nuzzle before quickly pulling back, "see ya tomorrow." He said hurriedly as he rushed away trying to hide the flush in his cheeks.

Pinkie stood in awe for a moment. She had wanted a kiss, but that nuzzle certainly sufficed. It was as if the imprint of his warm face still lingered on her cheek. As he had leaned in she had been overwhelmed by a scent of warm sugar and cinnamon. The smell had gone right through her and sent a tingle down her spine that remained for a few moments after the sensation of his presence had worn off.

She wondered what she smelt like as she made a mental note to tell him how pleasant his aroma was.

Once Joe had disappeared and Pinkie had settled herself, she turned on her heel and bounced contentedly back to her room. The sudden turn in her direction causing Twilight to push Flash off quickly so that she could find out exactly what had been said.

Before Flash had left she made sure to narrow her eyes on him and whisper harshly a "I'll be dealing with you later..." Which made the stallion shiver.

*************

Pinkie had gotten into bed well before Twilight having torn her dress off immediately as she came in the room, her mass of curls looking more buoyant than ever as they bulged around her face which glowed with happiness.

"So, what did he say?" Twilight asked nonchalantly as she let her mane down. She couldn't shake a feeling of guilt each time she regarded her jolly friend. She needed to know that Joe wasn't leading her on at Flash's request.
"He said we should 'get to know each other better'." Pinkie giggled as she tossed over to lie on her stomach and focus her gaze fully on Twilight.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

Pinkie gasped. "Twilight! You're the one with the colt friend here!" She giggled again, slightly more uncontrollably and rolled onto her back once more. "It means he wants to, you know... 'Get to know me'."

Twilight sighed. "I know what you think it means, but did he really say it in that tone?"

"Huh?"

"Well, he could have said it as 'I'd like to get to know you better' or, he could have said; hey, it might be nice if we got to know each other better. They mean different things."

Pinkie looked thoughtful for a bit. "Hmm, now that you mention it, it was probably the second one."

Twilight smiled in relief. "That makes much more sense."

Pinkie huffed. "Do you mean to say it wouldn't make sense if Joe wanted to get to know me, that way?"

"Not at all! I just mean it would be unlike a gentle stallion such as himself to come on so strong." Twilight corrected calmly.

Pinkie sighed. "I guess you're right. But I hope he's not too much of a gentle stallion, if you know what I mean..."

Twilight was settling under her blankets as Pinkie had spoken and she paused to regard her friend seriously. "Pinkie..." She said in a warning tone.

"What? I can't help it if I want things to move quickly. I thought that's what most stallions wanted anyhow. I mean, you and Flash obviously didn't take your time."

Twilight grimaced. Just ignore it... "I'm just saying, I think you should actually get to know Joe before you start assuming things." She was trying ever so hard not to sound exasperated.

"Mmhmm, sure. Can I ask you something though?"

Twilight turned their lights off with her magic. "Shoot." She yawned as she sank into her pillow.

She heard the rustle of Pinkies blankets as she tossed and turned. "Well, you're a unicorn, right?"

"Yes..."

"And unicorns all have horns, right?"

Twilight scowled as she figured out where this was headed.

Sigh. "Yes..."

Pinkie shuffled a little more. "Is it true that you guys are kinda... Sensitive, in that region?"

Twilight tensed. "Pinkie, what does this have to do with anything?"

Pinkie chuckled nervously. "Well... I've never dated anypony before, especially not a unicorn and I really want to make him happy, you know? I mean, that's my special talent after all..."

Twilight groaned and sat up. "Pinkie, please. Just, date Joe and get to know him. When he's ready for all that, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to educate you."

Pinkie was silent.

Twilight lay back down and pulled her blankets around herself.

"Twilight?"

Silence.

"Twiiiiilight?"

"Pinkie..."

Silence.

"I know you're kinda touchy about this stuff but... Have you ever, you know... Put it in your mouth?"

Twilight shot up out of bed. "Pinkie, seriously?! You only just got asked out!"

"I know! I know!" She said defensively. "But, I just can't help wondering and you love teaching ponies stuff..."

Twilight groaned again.

"So?"

"No, I haven't so I couldn't tell you anything about it." Twilight lied.

"Oh. Okay. Goodnight Twilight!"

This is going to be the longest two weeks of my life...

***************

As always, Joe was up at three in the morning to begin work. Due to having gone out for the first time in a long time the evening prior, he hadn't gotten as much sleep as usual so it was particularly hard to pull himself out of bed. To begin his daily routine, he applied a generous splash of cold water on his face before pulling on his chefs jacket and grabbing a pastry from the day before for breakfast.

Walking groggily down to the kitchens, he recalled the events of last night.

His eyes widened as he recalled asking Pinkie effectively to date him. Wow... That's not something I thought I'd do again.

He pushed open the door to the main kitchen and felt a shiver as the morning air hit his coat. Using his magic he flicked a switch which activated the overhead heaters and began firing up the ovens.

Using his aura again, he levitated a large group of items, eggs, flour etc and brought them to rest in appropriate and completely memorised amounts in an industrial mixer which soon hummed to life. Placing all the ingredients back in place, Joe turned a cupboard nearby to make himself some coffee when before he could place his hooves on the handles the warming aroma of black coffee hit his nostrils like a friendly embrace.

He turned in shock to see Pinkie enter the kitchen from the opposite end carrying two steaming mugs.

"Uhh?" Was all he could utter as he stood slack jawed.

"Oh hi!" Pinkie almost shouted as though she hadn't noticed him although they were the only two ponies in the room. "I thought you'd need a pick me up after last night. Sorry we kept you awake so long."

Joe tried to master his jaw as he grasped the mug which Pinkie held out to him. "T-thanks..."

"No worries." Pinkie smiled happily resting on her haunches and bringing her mug to her lips.

Joe looked mildly concerned as he imagined the effects of coffee on this bouncy pony, but before she sipped she seemed to catch his thought and giggled at it.

"Don't worry, I only drink tea."

Joe blinked heavily before hesitantly laughing himself.

"What are you doing up this early anyway? And how did you even get in here?" He asked as he took his first sip.

"You call this early? Four o'clock is hardly impressive..."

"Four o'clock?" Joe asked, feeling the slightest tinge of worry come over him. "What do you mean four, its clearly..." He looked at the clock on the wall and read the time. Quarter past four. Unmistakable. "It's four o'clock?!" Joe shouted almost dropping his coffee.

"Is that bad?"

Joe felt his chest start to heave, he had never slept in before. He was running an hour behind this morning and regardless of what happened he had to have fresh doughnuts out for the customers and be ready to start a day of teaching in less than three hours! He felt a rush of hot blood to his head as his heart started pumping triple time. Sweat gathering on his brow as he stood frozen in horror.

"Joe? Joe? Hello Joe?" Pinkie had approached the stunned donutier and was about to poke him when he finally shook himself from his stupor.

"I never start this late! What am I going to do!? I'm ruined!"

He was about to move away in a panic before Pinkie raised her hoof and pressed it firmly against his muzzle.

"Stop!" She commanded. "I'm going to need you to take a deeeeeep breath, can you do that for me, Joe?"

Joe nodded slowly as he proceeded to take a long, slow breath.

"Great. Now I want you to release that breath out through your mouth, not too quick! But at a relaaaaaxed pace."

Joe nodded again before following her advice. He felt his blood begin to cool and his heart begin to slow as the breathing took effect.

"Gooood!" Pinkie sighed as she followed suit, her eyes sliding shut. "Now!" She suddenly shouted, "lets think about what we have to do."

Joe felt his brain twist into knots at the thought of his current reality. "An impossible task?"

"Nooooo... Good try though. What we have to do is to get through this morning in one piece. And how are we going to do that?"

Joe licked his lips nervously. "I have no idea..."

Pinkie finally lowered her hoof as she gave him a happy grin. "Don't be silly! We're going to do this together!"

Joe said nothing. He wasn't sure how that was meant to be comforting.

"Many hooves make light work remember? And together we'll have those doughnuts out in no time." She said proudly.

"But, Pinkie, you don't know how to make doughnuts properly yet..."

Pinkie stared at him blankly for a moment. "That's... True." She said hesitantly. "But! I do know how to make fantastic cupcakes."

Joe looked dubious. "And how does that help my doughnut store?"

"Duh, you'll just have to sell some cupcakes for today. I'm sure it won't kill your customers."

Joe wasn't as sure as Pinkie that it wouldn't but he had no other choice. If that was what he had to do to have enough stock for the day, then that would have to do.

"Okay." He said, feeling suddenly determined. "Lets do this!"

"Woo!" Pinkie shouted happily as she bounced over to the cupboards to extract the necessary ingredients.

"Hold up! Pinkie I don't have any cupcake trays!" Joe looked sadly at Pinkie seemed unperturbed.

"That's fine. I always carry a spare 500 pack of patty trays for emergencies like this."

Joe started in bewilderment as seemingly from nowhere she produced a wad of colourful patty cake trays.

"Umm... Great!"

****************

It was six thirty and the other students would be arriving shortly. Joe was impressed by what he and Pinkie had achieved. Lined out on the table near Pinkie was a good two hundred cupcakes which she was just finishing off. He watched with a smile as she stuck her tongue out while applying the last piping of frosting to a vanilla cupcake.

Joe meanwhile was preparing to fry his final batch of doughnuts for the morning.

"I can't believe we pulled this off. I owe you for this one, Pinkie."

Pinkie laughed. "Did you really think we wouldn't?"

Joe didn't think he should answer that question.

"Here. I want you to be my quality tester." Pinkie said as she came towards him carrying a bright pink cupcake.

Joe smiled as he levitated it over to his mouth. "This looks awesome." He said before taking a generous bite.

Pinkie watched in eager anticipation as she awaited his judgement. His eyes were closed as he chewed the sweet, a small 'mmm' coming from his full mouth.

"So?"

Joe swallowed and opened his eyes. "No jokes, that was the best cupcake I've ever eaten!"

Pinkie clapped her hooves together excitedly. "Do you really mean it?"

Joe nodded. "Seriously, it is an honour to serve this at my store... I'm only afraid that now I'm going to have get you to teach me how to do this before you leave because once my customers have a little they're going to want more!"

"Well, I could always come back and make more." Pinkie said with a sweet smile.

Joe gulped. Yes, I suppose she very well could...

"Or you could come to Ponyville sometime and I could teach you there."

Joe had to paste a fake smile on his face. "Haha, yeah..."

Pinkie didn't seem to notice his hesitance and rather bounced away blissfully happy and ignorant.

***************

Joe hadn't been planning on going out with Pinkie this evening, but after the help she had given him it only seemed fair. Besides the fact the she hung around the store even after the class had been dismissed. Joe had begun to think that by the end of the day she would be getting on his nerves, but to his surprise, he actually didn't mind the thought of her still be around after closing time.

As the last customers were leaving, Pinkie began doing the dishes while Joe packed up.

"Thanks for this morning, you saved the day."

"Aw, no problem. It was super fun to be making my speciality again. I never thought I could miss cupcakes so much."

Joe smiled. "I'll give you a cut out of the earnings for the day of course."

Pinkie gasped. "Absolutely not! I was doing you a favour, you don't owe me a thing!"

Joel's ears lowered against his head in confusion. "Are you sure?"

"Sure as can be." She piped.

Joe didnt feel right accepting her help for nothing, but he wasnt sure he could press the issue without offending her so things went quiet.

"So, what do you want to do tonight?" She asked suddenly.

Joe hadn't really thought that far ahead. "Well, do you have anything in mind?"

"I'm happy with anything."

Joe wondered whether that was one of those generic things females said when they really did have something in mind but they wanted to see you come up with it. He therefore hesitated to respond.

"Maybe we could do a picnic dinner?" He suggested.

"Ooo, that sounds fun!" She replied excitedly.

Joe watched her carefully, weighing up the honesty of her response. "Of course, I can make us something to take." He suggested, thinking that Pinkie might show signs of being really impressed by this suggestion so he could build a gauge of her emotions.

"Why in Equestria should you do that? After all, we have all these yummy pastries around that haven't been eaten, why don't we just take these?"

"Well we could certainly take some, but we can't just eat desert." He laughed the idea away.

"Don't be ridiculous, of course we can only eat desert. It's the best part of dinner anyway."

Joe stared at Pinkie who was calmly drying some plates. The idea of only eating sweets sounded marvellous to a pony whose life revolved around pastry, but his previous experiences with mares made him confused about her suggestion. "Seriously? Aren't you... I mean, don't you... Not that you have to..." He blushed as he got muddled. "Don't most mares usually worry about their figures?"

To his relief Pinkie looked unperturbed. "Of course. But, I'm not most mares. For me there are only three things in life that are really important. Number one is making every pony I meet smile because there is nothing greater than that. Number two is spending time with my wonderful friends, and number three is eating as much delicious food as I possibly can!"

Joe marvelled at the pink pony in his kitchen. Since all that business with his last filly friend, Joe had thought that mares were only concerned with themselves. Of course, he didn't mean to generalise. He respected his female employees and all mares really, but deep down he could never really get over his deep seated belief in their selfish nature as a community. What Pinkie had just said now transcended all selfish thought. She dedicated her life to the happiness of others.

Memories of her stalwart behaviour towards her employers creation aboard that train came back to him. Not to mention the fact that she had afterward so willingly forgiven her friends upon learning of their deceit.

There was more to this mare than met the eye.

"It's settled then. A picnic of sweets in the Canterlot gardens coming right up."