Pinkie Pie had been over, just a few hours ago. I had agreed to her proposal, mainly because I had nothing better to do at the time. Diamond Tiara had been on her new Tea Time at Rarity's Boutique, with a few select Fillies at the time.
Maybe I had just done it in spite in order to make myself feel more important? Pinkie Pie is always fun, or funny. Whatever she was up to.
The time she had mentioned, did make me wonder. Why in all of Equestria would she pick a time as late? Even I knew it would be close to when Celestia would call the sun down. Then Luna brought her Moon to bear, beaming down on us, calling the night forth.
I could clearly hear a knocking on the door. Knowing the time, I knew it was for me and Pinkie Pie would be on the other side. When opportunity is knocking on the door, don't knock it.
“Pinkie Pie!” I exclaimed as I pulled the door open.
“Hiya, Silver Spoon. You are ready, I take it!” she merely pointed out.
“Oh yeah. I sure am. Since you asked, I don't have to ask if it is going to be fun!” I declared.
“I see you know better than to ask me that. Let's be off, I know this is to be the best Picnic you have been on this far!” she teased with a grin slyer than I had seen haunting her face.
“I'm off with Pinkie Pie!” I merely announced as I walked out, Pinkie Pie closing the door behind me before there was a chance to respond.
Once she had closed the door, I follow her along the street, quietly for a while.
“You need a little excitement, so I figured I could have you out on a special picnic. Although I guess I should admit, I am enjoying this myself, too. Just the two of us, none to disturb the moment!” she blurted out as we turned of from the street and onto another.
“If we are on the confession street, I guess I could as well admit to being a bit surprised when you asked me. My parents may not be the best of friends to either you or your closer friends, just like I never really was the best of friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders? On the other hoof, you seem to be friend to every Pony in Ponyville. Besides, our community has changed as of late. I can't ignore it. It is well beyond Twilight Sparkle becoming Alicorn and Princess too!” I suggested.
“You are not your parents and you have become nicer to the Crusaders, maybe this is the perfect time. Yes, I am friends with every Pony, which should by all rights include you, even if some may see conflicting interests there. You could either be part of the coming changes, or be crushed by them. To me, the first priority has always been to see every Pony smile, even if it includes Mules, Donkeys and even a few Griffons, which isn't a problem on my part, I just want to see them all smile. I hope that isn't too much to ask. Since both Twilight Sparkle and Rarity have expressed joy in their new activities, tutoring fillies, just like yourself, it is high time I pick up on it and see if I could do the same. I just provide different entertainment, compared with them!” Pinkie pointed out.
“Sounds like an idea in my taste. I don't like the idea of the changes crushing me, more than any other Pony would. If you wanted to take time for a picnic with me, I guess I can't complain!” I responded, just as she turned in on the next street.
“With the new Castle, Ponyville is about to become important. We are no longer living in a mere rural village on the outskirts of a dangerous forest, even if the forest is by no means safe. I had the impression there is a nice clearing, not too far off, where we could enjoy our little picnic. Just a few stark shadows for a more intense scene, which is exactly why I chose to go out when I did!” she teased.
“We have a Princess present, living among us. It draws new Ponies and wealth into our community. I have heard Filthy mentioning this. I guess I couldn't miss noticing the effects either. I guess you have noticed, or heard Rarity mentioning she is getting more Ponies, asking for her services? It was already starting as Twilight was stationed in her library, but now it is obvious. Maybe that is why they never take me on a simple picnic, these days?” I pondered.
Now Pinkie Pie turned in on yet another road, clearly leading to the forest, Everfree forest, but I had not quite noticed it just yet. I had to hoof it to her, she is great at claiming and keeping the attention of Ponies, both the individuals and the crowd. Maybe I am admiring her for it, even more so than I had admitted even to myself.
All of a sudden, I see a bright light, almost as if it had been the sun about to raise, which I knew couldn't be the case. The light never rose more than a few feet off of the ground. Then I hear a set of hooves, a Pony is coming closer. She is apparently a fillie my age. If she had been living in the village for more than a few months, I would have recognised her, or at least it is what I wanted to tell myself.
“Silly services. I am with you in order to chase a few shadows off of your tails. You'll need it soon enough, considering this is the road leading into the Everfree forest. Not the same path Nyx was told to go, but it is just as dark a path as she was tricked onto. You all knew how that was to end up, good thing some Pony managed to save her from that little prank!” Silly pronounced clearly.
“I guess the light could be convenient right now. As you said, it is a very dark path!” I pondered weakly.
“I guess we can proceed now, since we have all the light would could handle!” Pinkie Pie suggested with a giggle lacing her voice in a poisonously sly tone to it.
How was I to know she could muster such undertones to her personality? We had all known her for the fun and games, the laughter and partying, the all nighters. Maybe we had imagined it? The seriousness to her person never truly did hit home. A party is supposed to be fun, how could it be a deadly serious business to any Pony?
“I thought you were an Earth Pony, Silly, so how could you possibly bring this bright and focused a light with you? I can't even see a lantern. Uh, and why is your horn glowing like that? It is frightening in an odd way I can't quite put my hoof to!” I inquired.
“Yes, technically I am still the same Earth Pony you always knew me to be, just as I have always been. Fate hoofed me this Amulet, it is what allows me to channel the magical power, thus giving off the light. It has always been like this. Didn't Twilight Sparkle's horn act in a similar manner, back when she was battling Tirek, Pinkie? Since we are friends, I guess you can call me Silly, if you like Silver!” Silly responded.
“It may have been immensely more pronounced, but yes, it did act in a similar manner. One Pony isn't supposed to harness the magnitude, the power of four Alicorns, like she did at the time. It was clearly more than was good for her at the time. The battle could never have been won with sheer power, when they had that magnitude on their horns![” Pinkie responded, in a more lecturing tone.
“Twilight had overloaded her horn, in a manner of speaking, if we can't contain the power, it would give this impression of a leakage. I am new at this, just as Twilight was at the time. Maybe we can learn to handle more in a more comfortable and comforting manner with time? Although I have a feeling this will keep the beasts of the Everfree night away as well. If not, I have a few tricks in reserve. Pinkie Pie, you do know how to act in this forest, right?” Silly concluded.
“Yes, Granny Pie taught me all about it. I explained it to my friends a while back, when we were in the neighbourhood. If you can laugh at the scary faces you think you see, you are doing fine. On the other hoof, I love to be scared from time to time. Most of you have seen it in Ponyville!” Pinkie put forth.
“Is that why you dressed up as a Chicken at Nightmare Night, Pinkie? I think I recall seeing you with balloons tied around your waist, screaming at the top of your lungs, flailing madly with your hooves suspended in the air, moving forwards, stopping, only to ask if anyone wanted to Panic with you? Only none caught your idea. You truly are a riot of laughter, where ever you show up, Pinkie Pie!” I proclaimed in response.
“I was right, you are learning from me already. I think you can be a great mare, one day, not too far from now!” Pinkie Pie pointed out.
“We all have our ways. Maybe laughter isn't all that bad, after all? I sure am enjoying this more than I could have expected. Just that some Parents wouldn't approve of your teaching methods, I fear!” I pondered.
“Teasing methods, you mean? Maybe they would have preferred how I taught Diamond Tiara a certain trick, even if I doubt they enjoy the trick I taught her!” Silly pointed out.
“You did teach her the trick of how you got your wings? Or are you talking about the horn that allowed her to accept the trick? These are exceptional and revolutionary, from what I could see. I doubt her parents are ecstatic about either, though!” Pinkie pondered.
“How did you even come up with the idea, Silly?” I inquired.
”Sometimes, you have to see over the fence. If you could see how others use their specific magic, as opposed to how you use your Earth Pony magic, the world is no longer the same. Pegasi use their wings, Unicorns use their horns. We all focus and channel the very same magic. We only do it differently and with very different results. Exactly how to describe how you channel your magic is still beyond me, I just do it on reflex!” Silly explained.
“Wait, where are all the scary faces I was promised earlier? I can't see a single one of them. Just silly old trees. Maybe I could enjoy to see over that fence too? Never know when it is convenient. Maybe the reflex would explain a few things, if only I could see where it came from!” I put forth.
“Sorry to cut this short, but we are here. Time for our little picnic!” Pinkie Pie announced.
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