//------------------------------// // Chapter eight- Friendship is no picnic-party // Story: Castle in the clouds // by ovineConventionalist //------------------------------// Letters from Pinkie arrived frequently in the post, often containing a message from one of their other friends. On one particularly hilarious occasion the princesses had each written their well-wishes, in fancy cursive, on Pinkie Pies bright magenta, balloon adorned, glitter covered parchment. Piles of glitter were being accumulated in the little nooks and crannies of their homes, but the messages were always welcome as they gave them a lot to talk about. “It seems like the wedding was a big success.” Applejack mused one sunny evening as she and Rainbow sat in the familiar shade of her orchard. “Ah’m so relieved. Rare’ was gettin’ in such a state in her last letter.” “And the way Pinkie Pie just trailed off into writing words that rhyme with orange.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Pfft. She just made all of them up! All two pages!” “O’ course ah never supposed fer a minute she wouldn’t pull it off.” Applejack had a never ending supply of faith in her friend. “Ah would have told her if ah’d been there. O’course she probably didn’t read our letter yet, bein’ so busy an’ all.” “But we’ll probably hear them all in her next song.” Rainbow shook her head, exasperated. “That’s another thing I don’t miss about Pinkie: the constant singing. Don't get me wrong, I’ll be glad to have her back, but I’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet… how long is it until they get back?” “Ah knew she could pull it off.” Applejack said again. “AJ?” “Huh, what?” “How long until she… they get back?” “Uh, three more days. Four if you count today.” By then the sun had almost descended completely. Trees were becoming shrouded in dusk. Cricket song was becoming increasingly loud as the orchard grew dark. Today didn’t seem worth counting at all as it was almost over. Applejack didn’t seem to think ‘almost’ was soon enough. “Well ah should be doin’ the dishes. It’ll soon be time fer getting’ Applebloom ready for bed.” AJ said with a yawn. “Already?” Rainbow thought that such an early bedtime was unthinkable. She loved to sleep, but saw no reason she shouldn’t do that in the day. Ever since she was a little filly she would stay up late either daydreaming or flying. Ever since she could remember she had had regular late night talks with Fluttershy, both at flight school and in Ponyville. The memory set a painful weight in her stomach; she vowed to make it up with her lifelong friend, properly, at the earliest opportunity. Night time, Rainbow thought, brings out the best in ponies. You don’t truly know a pony until you stay up with them past midnight, when they’re relaxed and unguarded. Fluttershy was far less humble at that time, she would laugh long and hard without ever covering her mouth. Pinkie was another pony who liked to stay up and talk or have fun. In contrast to Fluttershy, she could be much more tranquil at night. She would often sit with her (impossibly) on the front deck of her cloud house and they would talk for hours about whatever random speculations came into their heads, completely unfased by the chime of midnight on the town-hall clock. Sometimes Dash would confide in Pinkie some of the things she had told only Fluttershy. She supposed she might have have been comfortable telling some of her other friends some of these things too, had they stayed up talking with her at that indefectible time of day. Pinkie never told her any secrets, Dash supposed she didn’t have any. It wouldn’t occur to her to pry for confidential information when she herself was feeling so contented. She did wonder how Pinkie didn’t get cold, or tired for that matter seeing as she wasn’t a Pegasus, and didn’t ever sleep during the day. Perhaps it was just one of the many mysteries about her pink friend. Nonetheless, Dash made a mental note to bring a blanket for her next time. **** Knock, knock, knock. Fluttershy ambled blearily toward the door of her room. She hoped it was one of her friends knocking, but she could tell from the formality of the sound that it was not and she would have to face a complete stranger once the door was open. She would mumble, or say something awkward or… she inhaled deeply and breathed out slowly, trying to block out her anxious thoughts. On the other side of the door a blue female Pegasus handed her a note. “Letter for Fluttershy.” “Oh, um… thank…” The mare tipped her hat and walked back along the corridor before ‘Shy could stutter her last word. She face-hoofed as she fluttered back over to her bed. She sat agonising over what had just happened for a moment, before remembering the parchment. She hastily untied it, aquamarine eyes darted across the page as a small, contented smile spread over her features. The torment of a few moments prior was forgotten. hey Fluttershy, first- how are you? I heard you were using your crazy sewing skills to help out Rarity- but that’s not really why I’m writing to you. Im sorry I havent spoken to you much recently and I hope were still best friends- honestly Im not angry with you at all- applejack thought that you might think I was angry or sad and that was making you sad but Im not either of those things. I miss you and I cant wait to see you in a few days. love Rainbow Dash **** “How’s that?” Rainbow Dash looked up at Applejack “Very to the point.” Applejack said with a chuckle. “And it doesn’t sound… it doesn’t sound needy?” Rainbow looked at her apprehensively. “It’s fine Rainbow.” AJ rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe it took you so long to write such a short note. Just put a ‘P.S.’ and say hello from me will you?” **** P.S. aj says hello to everypony. AJ sends her love. Fluttershy sighed happily, and lay back across her bed, clutching the note to her chest. She had some wonderful friends, and considered herself very lucky. Looking at the clock she could see that it was ten in the morning, one-and-a-half hours until Violin Heartstrings would supposedly meet them at the castle entrance. She resolved to make more of an effort to speak to their new acquaintance. It was one of those precious yet dangerous mornings when you feel as if nothing can possibly go wrong. That damning turn of phrase sent a wave of uncertainty coursing through her veins, but she shook off the feeling and walked from her room with her head held high, deciding to look for Pinkie Pie first. **** Pinkie lay flat on her back staring dolefully at the sky-blue canopy of her four-poster bed and let out a long, heart-felt sigh. She turned to bury her face in one of the multitude of pillows strewn across the bed to block out the colour which was all too mnemonic of a certain pony. Usually, after waking, she would perform a routine she had perfected to ensure she was as upbeat and energetic as was possible for a pony. But today she just didn’t see the point. What is wrong with me? Pinkie pie, you need to think poooositiiiiiiive thoughts if you’re ever going to get over these blues. She turned back over to take in the colour of her bed again, chuckling hollowly at her own joke. Right! Pinkie screwed up her face in concentration. She thought of the Cakes as they said their goodbyes before she set off for Canterlot. Remembering the warmth of them both as they hugged her, and the smell of baking. The sound of Mrs Cake reminding her for the hundredth time to not get lost on her own in the big city. They cared for her like any parents would, and would surely welcome her back with open hooves upon her return. She thought of the twins and their gurgled laughs, and high pitched cries. She could always count on them for playtime… or an alarm clock. She thought of Applejack, of Rarity, of Twilight. She dug down deep to retrieve the happiest moment she could remember: probably moving to Ponyville. Leaving behind her monotone world of apathy and discovering a place where everypony laughed and talked and played in an entire spectrum of colour. She sighed again. She could never go for long without her thoughts being drawn back to the rainbow. She couldn’t do much else but lie back let the anguish wash over her, but a knock at the door roused her from her reverie. BUCK! “Just a second!” Pinkie heard her own chipper voice say. That was good; her tone of voice wasn’t betraying her emotions. Pinkie galloped over to the mirror to take in her appearance. Bright eyes, check. Vibrant fur, check. Her hair was poufy as ever. She tried a smile, a little fragile but otherwise fine. “Come in!” Pinkie hopped back up onto her bed, preparing to beam at the newcomer. Her smile faltered slightly when she saw who it was. Fluttershy didn’t notice. “Hi Pinkie, um, are you busy?” “Nope!” “Oh good.” Fluttershy hopped onto the foot of Pinkies bed and looked at her friend expectantly. A few seconds went by. “So um…” Fluttershy didn’t know what to say, she usually found that talking to Pinkie was the easiest thing in the world, why did it suddenly feel so awkward? Fluttershy thought back to the last time they had spoken. Did she say something wrong? Had she upset Pinkie? The last time they had really talked was… the day she had been so upset about Rainbow Dash! Yes that was it; Pinkie had been oddly unavailable since then… was she worried about looking like she was picking sides? That must be it! Fluttershy produced the note; certain it would relieve her friend of any worry. Today, her empathetic nature would surely make her the master of social interaction. Pinkie pored over the letter and saw how Rainbow Dash referred to Fluttershy as her best friend, how she missed her and sent her love. She hadn’t said anything of that kind to Pinkie. She knew Dash was closer with Fluttershy than with her. Sometimes Dash would tell her a secret or reveal something Pinkie didn’t yet know about her. Every revelation was fascinating to Pinkie Pie who held each secret with reverence. Rainbow would tell her that she had never told anypony else and that would make her feel special, as if she were the luckiest mare in all of Equestria. “Except Fluttershy.” Why did the sentence always have to end that way? “I’ve never told anypony, except Fluttershy.”