Chapter 7
Inkwell awoke, not to his alarm (which he had forgotten to set), but to Rarity standing over him, a small frown on her face. He slowly brought himself awake and blinked his heavy eyelids. He sat up and looked at the clock on the side of his bed.
6:45 p.m.
The party started at seven, and he wasn't even clean and presentable. He looked at Rarity who nodded her approval at his awakening and went downstairs to prepare for the party herself. Inkwell hopped out the bed and went take a quick shower. He felt his body relax at the warm water the flowed over him. He knew he wasn't one for parties, but he figured he might as well go. After about ten minutes he stepped out the shower and dried himself, and brushed his mane into a somewhat decent shape. He went downstairs to find Rarity was about to walk out the door. He quickly trotted up beside her so he could follow to the site of the party.
"So, darling. What exactly happened yesterday?"
"To but it bluntly, I was turned into a cat."
"Really?! How on Earth did you manage that?"
"Well, Twilight was using me as a subject for sell practice and turned me into a cat. We went to Fluttershy's, who by the way has a storage warehouse underneath her home, and got me a bit of fish. Oh, I also talked to her rabbit, and yes, I mean talked talked. Did you know he swears? And to wrap up our glorious evening, we played a game of Monopony."
"Oh, well then. That sounds very... interesting."
"Ha! You don't know the half of it. So what are Pinkie's parties like?"
"I really can't think of a way to explain it. You have to experience it to know. But I can tell you one thing, she throws the most superb parties ever!" Inkwell was a bit skeptical about this, but he supposed it wouldn't hurt to go. He really didn't have any good experiences when it came to parties. He had only been to one in his whole life (with the exception of birthdays) and it had been in college. He shuddered at the memory of that awful night.
"Inkwell."
"Yes?"
"I've been meaning to ask you something. What university did you graduate from? If you don't mind my asking."
"Not at all. I graduated from Pranceton University, in Canterlot. Why?"
"Just curious is all. We don't have very many college graduates in Ponyville. Even fewer from big ones like Pranceton."
"Well it is hard to get into. Who else came from a big school?"
"Twilight, she graduated from Princess Celestia's school of magic."
"She's the only one? Wow." Just then, the spot of the party came into view. They were having it at the library, and when Inkwell walked in he could see that it had been decorated thoroughly and that most of the town appeared to be there. He could also see a cannon sitting in a corner. He decided it best not to wonder why it was there and just ignore it. He walked around and greeted most of the ponies there while slowly moving toward the punch bowl. He was almost there when an all to familiar pink pony appeared at his side.
"Hi Inkwell!"
"Hi Pinkie Pie," he breathed, a little annoyed that he was being kept from his precious punch.
"How do you like the party?"
"I just got, here. I really don't have that much of an opinion yet. But it's nice so far... I guess."
"Whaddya mean 'you guess'. Do you not like my party?" Her hair visibly deflated slightly at his response.
"No, your party is fine. I just don't like parties all that much. Nothing against you or anything, just... I've never really been able to enjoy myself since..." He trailed off, not being able to bring himself to talk about the most devastating thing that had happened to him in his whole life.
"Since...? Since what?"
"Never mind. I-it's not important right now." She gave him a skeptical look, but decided it wasn't important. She walked away and continued to greet the ponies that had shown up. He continued on to the punch bowl, his throat drier than ever. He picked up a paper cup and the ladle with his magic, Twilight approached from the side as he started to take his first sip.
"Hey Inkwell, isn't this party great?"
"I guess. Like I was telling Pinkie just a second ago, I don't care much for parties." He gave a small sigh at the remembrance of the only other party he had been to.
"Don't like parties? Well why not, everypony loves parties. Especially Pinkie's parties."
"It's... a long story. I'll tell you about it later." She gave him a sad look, but eventually walked away. Inkwell was about to take another sip of punch when a blue and rainbow colored spot appeared in his peripheral vision.
"Hey, killer party right! You must be new in town!"
"Actually we met yesterday, I just happened to be a cat."
"Oh that was you! That could not have been fun."
"No, not really. I'm sorry what was your name again?"
"Rainbow Dash, future Wonderbolt and the best flyer to ever come out of Cloudsdale. And what's your name again? Kinkwell or something right?"
"Inkwell. And speaking of Cloudsdale, did Twilight tell you I was coming with you guys?"
"No."
"I'm coming with you guys to Cloudsdale." He took a sip of his punch, and when he lowered the cup she was gone, only to be replaced by an orange mare with a blond mane and stetson hat.
"Hey there sugarcube. Hows yer head doin?"
"It's fine. How have you been... Applejack right?"
"Yep. An' Ah'm glad ta here that yer feelin' better. Say, have you tried the cake yet? It's a might bit delicious."
"Can't say that I have had it yet, but I'll look into it." He gave an audible sigh, and Applejack quirked an eyebrow.
"You alright sugarcube? You seem a bit under the weather."
"Yeah. I'm fine." She looked like she wanted to press the issue further, but apparently decided against it. Giving him a small smile, she turned and walked away. He decided to take her up on her advice, and walked over to grab himself a slice of cake. He noticed Fluttershy standing nearby and decided to go and talk a bit with her. After all, she was the only one he hadn't talked to yet.
"Hey there Fluttershy."
"Eep. H-how do you know my name?"
"Oh, sorry, forgot. It's Inkwell, I was a cat yesterday so..."
"Oh, well it's good to see you again Inkwell. How's the party? I-in your opinion."
"It's like I've been telling everypony, I don't like parties all that much."
"O-oh. Why not? I mean, if you don't mind me asking that is..."
"I don't mind you asking. But I'd rather not say."
"Oh, okay then."
"Thanks for the fish yesterday by the way. I wouldn't eat it now but, the cat in me yesterday sure liked it."
"Your welcome. Anything to help a friend." Inkwell froze. Does she really consider me a friend? He couldn't believe it. The first friend he had ever had now stood in front of him. He never expected to have a friend, especially not a good one like Fluttershy. Do the other five think of me as a friend too? Do I consider them friends? He decided that he did, and the first real smile he had had in a long time appeared on his face.
"Thank you, Fluttershy."
"For what?"
"For being my... my friend."
_____
Inkwell woke up to the sound of his alarm clock. The party the night previous was... good. He got up and saw his new saddlebags laying against the wall, packed for a two night stay in a hotel. The only problem was that he couldn't remember where he was going. He thought hard about the last couple of days, then looked out his window. He could see clear skies with the exception of one, massive cloud mass. Then it dawned on him, why he was packed and where he was going.
Today was the day he went to Cloudsdale.
Author's note: I know this one ended on a bad note, but I want the chapter with Cloudsdale to be it's own. It shouldn't take too long to come out, and it will be longer than my other chapter's. That is mostly because of how much I have planed for it. Keep reading fanfic my friends! Duvagr007 out!