Pinkie Pie was one of the first passengers off the train, skipping off the carriage onto the crowded platform with bulging saddlebag on her sides and a look of wonder and joy on her face. Gummi the alligator was once again out of sight. Looking around the station, Pinkie Pie didn’t see the angry glances directed at her from behind by several grumbling passengers also departing from her train, nor did she see several ponies shaking their hooves at her in anger, nor did she hear the complaints of ‘‘stupid filly, bringing a flipping crocodile onto a train, for goodness sake! I mean…really!’’ from the old brown stallion with the pocket watch cutie mark and half eaten bowler hat. She was just too lost in wonderment to notice.
When she reached the middle of the platform she stopped and jumped up onto a garbage can so as to see over the heads of the ponies crowding around her. Where were they? Where were her friends? They did say that they would be here. Where they over here? No? How about over there? No? How about - GASP! There! There they were! She could see them! Her friends were here! Her friends were here! Her friends were HERE!
All of Pinkie’s friends, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Apple Jack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, were grouped together at the entrance to the station. Twilight was in the middle of the group, watching the new arrivals with intent. Spike was on her back, watching the crowds also. AJ, in her plain old usual hat, was in a deep conversation with Rarity, who was wearing a magnificent looking unusual hat. And the two Pegasus Ponies were both fluttering gently above the heads of the others. They held out some sort of pink banner between them with writing on it. As Pinkie narrowed her eyes and shielded them with her left front leg to block out the sun, she could just make out what it said; ‘‘WELCOME HOME PINKIE PIE. WE MISSED YOU’’. It was written in sparkling glitter.
Awww, you guys Pinkie thought. She began to tear up. Her eyes glistened, and her lips trembled. Then she laughed, and bawled, simultaneously at the top of her lungs, startling those around here, and charged right off the can into the crowds towards her friends.
‘‘Hey! Hey, there she is!’’ Dash called out! ‘‘She’s here! And she’s coming in fast!’’ They all turned round, and saw the rapidly oncoming Pinkie charging right at them, twin streams of tears in her wake. The other passengers in the station jumped clear of the rapid pink projectile hurtling towards the group of fillies.
‘‘Oh…my.’’ said Fluttershy. Her face was filled with trepidation, and her irises were contracted in fright.
‘‘Brace yurselves!’’ AJ called out. They all put on their best welcoming smiles, and prepared for impact.
‘‘AHHHH HAAA HA HA HA!’’ laughed and cried Pinkie as she crashed into the group. After knocking Twi, Spike, AJ and Rarity down, sending Rarity and AJ’s hats flying in the process, she then scooped up all her friends, including Dash and Fluttershy, into a massive and constricting Pinkie Pie hug. Her tears of joy soon soaked her friends as well. She was talking to them, but it was so rapid, they couldn’t make out any of it, but it was safe to assume that she was really glad to see them all again. This went on for quite a length of time.
‘‘We’re…all…hap…py…to see…you…too…Pinkie…Pie!’’ Twilight gasped. She could barely get her words out due to the constricting hug, but she managed to pry herself out of it once Pinkie calmed down slightly. ‘‘We really missed you’’.
‘‘Yeah, it’s great to see ya again Pinkie Pie. This whole place just ain’t been the same without ya sugarcube.’’ AJ chipped in. Her expression was initially warm, but then she began to look bemused. Still within the hug, she looked Pinkie Pie up and down as Fluttershy chirped up her greeting.
‘‘Yes, it’s been really tough going without you around to cheer us up, but we knew you had to go visit your family.’’ said the yellow Pegasus as she rose softly into the air. ‘‘And it’s just so…wonderful…to have you back, hee hee.’’ She was grinning in a most adorable fashion as she hugged Pinkie back. But then, she too began to look puzzled. Something felt…strange, about Pinkie Pie. Then it dawned on her what it was. Oh dear, she thought to herself.
‘‘Thanks guys’’ Pinkie said quietly, wiping her face clean of tears as her sobbing was brought under control. ‘‘I really missed you all too.’’. Pinkie’s friends freed themselves from her grip, and grouped round her with warm smiles as the pink pony gasped at the exertion of her outburst.
‘‘OK OK,’’ laughed Spike. ‘‘You can stop being all mushy now. Ponies are starting to look. And hey, guess what? We’re having a little shindig at Sugar Cube Corner for you later, and practically all of Ponyville’s going to be there! And it starts in an hour!’’ Pinkie once again gasped.
‘‘A PARTY? FOR ME? OH YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE! THIS IS SO AWESOME I CAN’T STAND IT! HEY, LET’S GO THERE NOW! I WANT TO GO SEE EVERYPONY AND GIVE YOU ALL THE PRESENTS I BROUGHT BACK AND TALK ABOUT HOW AMAZINGLY AWESOME I THINK YOU ALL ARE!’’
‘‘Sounds like a plan’’ Dash smiled. The group began to make their way out of the station to Pinkie’s home, with the pink filly leading the way. AJ and Rarity quickly retrieved each others hats and put them on, before quickly exchanging them with much sniggering when they saw the mix up. Pinkie skipped ahead of the group with joy, talking loudly to herself about great it was to be back in Ponyville and how her friends were simply the best. But behind her, her friends began to exchange glances. They had all new seen, and felt, the problem with Pinkie Pie.
‘‘Whohoo! I’m only just back in town and I’m already going to a party! I knew today would be fantastic! C’mon guys, let’s go let’s go let’s go!’’ Pinkie said.
‘‘Yes, and on the way you simply must tell us how things were out on the farm’’ said Rarity to Pinkie as she corrected her unsettled mane. The twin purple feathers in her hat were now quite crooked. She was maintaining an air of politeness with a wide smile, but like the others, her mind seemed elsewhere, and the smile seemed false.
‘‘Sure thing Rarity!’’ Pinkie said. ‘‘Well, the farm’s still kinda boring. Nothing ever changes around there, but it was still great to see the family again. The old folks are pretty good. Poppa’s leg was really badly broken though, but he healed up real good thanks to my efforts! My sissie pies stopped in once and a while. They’re doing a-ok, but they still need to learn to lighten up! Granma Pie’s as feisty as ever! Oh, and Momma’s home cooking was just as delicious as I remembered it! Mmmm, couldn’t get enough of it!’’ she finished, licking her lips for emphasis.
‘‘Yeah, I bet she couldn’t’’ sniggered Dash to Twilight and Spike. She was pointing to Pinkie’s flanks, and was the first to voice an opinion about Pinkie Pie’s problem. It had become quite obvious to her friends that Pinkie had gained a substantial bit of, girth, since they last saw her several months ago. The party loving ponies’ previously lean physique had now given way to a chubbiness that was now visibly jiggling as she skipped along. Her belly now hung only a few inches above the ground.
‘‘Oh dear, you see it too’’, whispered Twilight. ‘‘She’s really let herself go, hasn’t she?’’ All sorts of bad thoughts concerning high cholesterol levels and blood pressure began to enter Twilight’s mind.
‘‘Yeah, ah’ll say’’, AJ said quietly. She looked very concerned. ‘‘And ah don’t think she knows it. Shouldn’t maybe we, y’know, say something, perhaps?’’
‘‘Certainly not!’’ Rarity cut in crossly, sending the feathers of her hat tweaking. ‘‘That would be most rude!’’
‘‘Yes, that would hurt her feelings, and just when she’s so happy to see us all again!’’ said Fluttershy. Dash nodded in agreement.
‘‘Yeah, I’m sure that would go down well.’’ she laughed. Then, she adopted a sarcastic and smug tone. ‘‘Hey there Pinkie Pie, great to see ya again pal! How long has it been since we last saw ya, like, three months? Oh hey, by the way, did you realise how fat you’ve gotten! Holy cow, you look like, well…a cow! And just look at them jellyrolls! Your like a big fat pink marshmallow, girl!’’
Twilight scowled at the Pegasus, but then she pondered to herself. Dash did have a point, even if she didn’t exactly put it delicately. Yes, on the one hoof, it might be hurtful to point out Pinkie Pie’s weight gain straight to her face. But then on the other hoof, if Pinkie Pie didn’t know that she had gained weight, then surely they as her friends should say something? But after a few moments of pondering their dilemma and Pinkie’s possible health problems, and even considering whether or not to voice her concerns, Twilight quickly cleared her mind of such things.
It was, obviously, just an ill verse effect of her mother’s home cooking and months of a lack of exercise. Given how energetic Pinkie was in her normal routine back here in Ponyville, Twilight was sure that once Pinkie was settled back in again, this temporary extra weight would be shifted in no time.
‘‘Don’t worry girls.’’ said Twilight. ‘‘I’m sure everything will be just fine. Don’t say a word to her about this. Not today at least. Now come on, we have a party to attend…’’
‘‘Well, ah don’t think we should just say nothing’!’’ AJ said with determination. ‘‘Ah think we should say something’ to Pink about her …’’
‘‘Hey Applejack, what cha talking about?’’ Pinkie said. She swung back round to face her friends, who all jumped. Her bright blues were still twinkling with joy, and she had a face splitting smile that completely disarmed Applejack.
‘‘Oh er…’’ AJ stuttered, biting her lip and averting her gaze. ‘‘I was just…erm’’
‘‘Why, nothing at all, dear! Nothing. At. All!’’ Rarity cut in, shutting the cowfillie up with stern look and a hoof over the mouth. ‘‘Now, how is little Gummy doing these days?’’