//------------------------------// // Wait, you grew up on a what? // Story: Cheese Pie // by CarmenColor //------------------------------// "Did you just say that you grew up on a--?" Cheese Sandwich started to say. "Rock farm!" Pinkie finished, smiling a bit, "Yes, I did! I lived there with my sisters and parents!" Cheese Sandwich stared at her, wondering just how a rock farmer managed to become a pony like Pinkie. It didn't really make much sense. Then again, Cheese himself had gone from the shyest pony around to the wandering party planner, so it wasn't like it was impossible or anything... "I never took you as a farm pony, Pinkie," Cheese admitted, "When was the last time you were there?" "Oh, I don't visit home much... I usually go once a year to throw them a big party and then I send them letters sometimes... Ever since I moved out, we haven't spent a lot of time together at once..." She shrugged. "It's okay though, they're usually too busy for partying anyway, that's why I only visit once a year." "Well, maybe we should both go visit them!" Cheese suggested, "We can throw a huge party, and then I can get to know them." He grinned widely at her. "Hmmm..." the mare thought for a second, "I guess I haven't visited them for about a year now, and I really should give them a visit... Yeah! Yeah, we should totally both go!" She started hopping up and down. "Oh, yay! I can wait for you to meet them all!" Cheese chuckled and nodded. "And I can't wait to meet them! When are we going to go, Pinkie? Do we need to pack?" The pink pony smiled. "We can leave tomorrow, if you want. They don't usually like really bit parties, so only bring the smaller things. Don't worry though, it will still be super fun!" Cheese hopped up. "I'm sure it will! I better go get my things from Applejack's! Do you want to meet up at the train station tomorrow?" "Sure! That sounds like a great idea! See you then, Cheese!" "Okay! Bye, Pinkie!" The colt trotted off towards Sweet Apple Acres, humming softly. He didn't take long to pack up the smallest party things he could find. He only had two bags of partying supplies when he was done, but if those bags were opened, the supplies inside would explode out to decorate the surrounding area. "This will be perfect!" he said, trotting over to his bed, "Boneless 2, you better be ready to meet Pinkie bright and early tomorrow morning." The rubber chicken in question was currently sitting limply in the windowsill. "Good!" Cheese said as if he were replying to someone. The colt hopped into bed and closed his eyes, very eager to be meeting Pinkie Pie's family. --cheese--pie-- The next morning, Cheese trotted towards the train station, keeping at eye out for the bright pink pony he was meeting there. At first, he didn't see her, but then she came trotting over from the direction of SugarCube Corner. "Hey, Pinkie!" "Hey, Cheese!" she replied, grinning, "My family is going to be so surprised when we show up to throw a party for them! I can't wait to take a picture of it!" She giggled, hopping around excitedly. Cheese couldn't help but bounce along with her. "Yeah! So how long is the train ride?" he asked. Pinkie stopped bouncing for a moment to think. "It usually takes quite awhile... Several hours at least, so we should have plenty of time to talk about what we want to do for the party!" They boarded their train and sat down together to discuss things. By the time they had finished deciding what to do, they had a whole list of things they had agreed on. They had been riding the train for quite awhile now, and they were nearing the farm where Pinkie had lived as a filly. Pinkie grew more and more excited as they approached the place, but Cheese Sandwich couldn't help but feel like something back was going to happen. His cheesy sense had never alerted him of any party where they were headed, and his cheesy sense always alerted him of parties, even if he was headed there already. "Pinkie, I have a b--" he started to say as the train ground to a stop. "We're here!" Pinkie exclaimed, grabbing her bags and hopping off the train. Cheese followed her off despite the fact that he knew something was wrong. He wondered just what would keep his cheesy sense from telling him there was going to be a party, since they were planning to have one here... It just didn't add up. "Pinkamina Diane Pie, is that you?" called an older mare, and Cheese Sandwich turned to see the greyest group of ponies he had ever seen. Not that he didn't like the color grey, but it was nearly impossible to see how a bright pink pony like Pinkie Pie had come from a family so....dull. "It's me, Momma!" she said in a chipper voice, "and this is my friend Cheese Sandwich!" The Pie family turned to look at the colt in the bright yellow shirt. He gave a small wave. "He's my coltfriend!" Cheese felt a sudden pang in his chest like something very bad was about to happen. The stallion in the small group gave him a sharp glare. "Coltfriend?" he asked, frowning, "This fellow? He doesn't look good enough for our Pinkamina." "What? But Cheese is great! He's one of my best friends, and he loves planning parties just like me!" Pinkie defended, pouting a bit. "He's a party pony? Any coltfriend of my daughters had better be a hard worker, not a party planner!" Mr. Pie said angrily, "Now, get outta here, you lazy colt!" The farmer raised a pitchfork. "Daddy, no!" Pinkie shrieked, "He's just here to help me throw a party for you guys!" "But sissy, Dad said he doesn't want him here," said one one Pinkie's sister, Inky. Blinkie, he other sister, nodded in agreement. "You have to listen to Dad." Pinkie teared up a bit. "But he can't leave! I invited him here to meet you all! And the train won't be back until later!" "He's got hooves, hasn't he?" Pinkie's father asked, "Maybe he oughta use them to get out of my sight!" He brandished the pitchfork at Cheese. "It might even give him more endurance. Maybe he'll be able to do something other than plan parties!" Cheese frowned sadly and turned to go, galloping away towards Ponyville. It would be a long way, but he knew he could make it. Besides, it wasn't like he could stay with Pinkie's father holding that pitchfork like that. Pinkie was sitting on the ground, staring at her family. "What's wrong with planning parties...?" she asked softly, whimpering. "Nothing!" he father said quickly, "That colt's just not good enough for you! You deserve better!" "But....but..." She turned to look at his retreating form. "There is no pony better!" Without hesitating, she galloped after him. "Cheese! Wait for me!" "Pinkie?" He stopped abruptly and turned to her. "What are you doing? Your family said--" "I know, but they don't really understand me sometimes..." She galloped up to him and nuzzled his cheek. "...Besides, I wouldn't want you going back to Ponyville all alone. It's always fun to walk with a friend!" She giggled a bit and kissed him. "Thanks, Pinkie," Cheese said, smiling, "You're the best."