//------------------------------// // Movie Night: First Time's The Charm // Story: Permanent Vacation // by Apple_Crack //------------------------------// “Permanent Vacation” Movie Night: First Time’s The Charm         Since the girls weren’t due to arrive till five, I had the entire morning to do whatever I wanted. After my usual ritual, I moved my Xbox out to the living room for two reasons. The first being that I don’t own a DVD player and the second is that I might as well make the most out of having a thirty-two inch flatscreen. After that, I went into the kitchen to see what I had and could make for dinner to suit my equine, guests. I open the fridge and reach for one of my last… two… Cokes… How in the world do I have an entire twelve pack of Coke in my fridge? They don’t even have Coke in this world?! I sigh. Guess I better get into the habit of just explaining things off to fucking magic.         Back to searching for dinner. I guess I could make salads using the lettuce, cheese, and carrots I have. I could spice mine up to be a taco salad with salsa and Doritos. I just shrug my shoulders. If they don’t like it, too bad cause that’s what I’m making. This isn’t Burger King. They can’t have it their way.         I spend the rest of the morning playing Fallout: New Vegas. As five rolled around, I switched between cooking the meat and playing the game. I had maybe five more minutes before the girls and Spike arrived. Just enough time for me to go on a sniping mission in Cottonwood Cove.         I save after silently wiping the Legion out of the cove, and just in time too. Hearing a knock at the door, I stand up and head over to the door. Opening, I’m greeted by my guests for tonight. “Ah, so glad to see that you all made it.”         Rainbow was the first to bolt through the door. “Where’s the food? I’m starving!”         “Rainbow Dash! That is no way to act around our gracious host!” Rarity glares at Rainbow, who in response just shrugs.         “Thank ya kindly for the hospitality, Blake.” Applejack slightly tips her Stetson down.         “Thank you for having us over.” Fluttershy avoids direct eye contact with me as she steps in.         “Thank you for inviting us. I had to push re-shelving the library up to tomorrow just to be here.”         I laugh. “I’m glad the books could wait till tomorrow.” Wait. I do a quick head count. Where is—         “This is gonna be awesome! I can’t wait to see the movie! Is it a scary movie cause I love scary movies!” Somehow, Pinkie is hanging from the ceiling in front of my face.         Feeling myself shake from built up rage at Pinkie logic, I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. I open them to see that Pinkie is now off the ceiling and standing in front of me. I sigh and head towards the kitchen, motioning for them to follow. They take their seats around the table that I already set with plates, silverware, and drinks. “Sorry if you guys aren’t in the mood for salads. I don’t have a lot of pony friendly food around here.”         “It’s alright, Blake. I’m sure everypony understands. Right, girls?” Twilight asks them. They all answer back with various forms of agreement.         I grab my plate and sit down. Everybody stares at my plate. “What? Haven’t you ever seen a salad before?”         “Of course we’ve seen salads before. I’m just curious what those orange,” Rarity waves her hand at my plate, “Things are.”         I grab a Dorito and hold it up. “This is a Dorito. Think of it like a corn chip with nacho cheese dust sprinkled over it. Here, try one,” I break off a couple of pieces and pass one to each of them. They each take a bite. “So, what do you think?”         Rainbow swallows and turns to me with a smile. “That tasted awesome!” The girls all mummer in agreement. “Hey, can I try one of those brown thingies?” She reaches a hand out towards my plate but I slap it away.         “Sorry, but this is something that you don’t want to try.”         Rainbow throws her hands up in the air. “Why not?!”         “Unless you eat meat, then I wouldn’t recommend it.” I pick up my fork and take a bite.         “Oh, ponies can eat meat…” Twilight says.         I swallow. “First off, that is surprising. Secondly, I know there’s more to that sentence.”         “We just don’t eat it often. It’s a very touchy subject with ponies, so please don’t bring it up around them.”         I notice Rainbow is still staring at my plate.         “Dude, Gilda and her went to flight camp together. Maybe…”         “Maybe Gilda got her to try meat and she liked it! Only one way to find out!”         “Hey, Rainbow?”         “Yeah?” She still hasn’t taken her eyes off my plate.         “If you want some meat, all ya gotta do is ask. I still have some in the pan.” The girls are all staring at me.         “Sure, I’ll take some.” Everyone, except for Rainbow and I, gasp as I grab her plate and walk over to the pan. “Rainbow Dash, you eat meat?!” Twilight says. “Oh, don’t act so surprised.” Rainbow and I say at the same time as I load up her salad with meat. “I didn’t think you of all ponies would be eating meat, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity says. “What did you expect? I had Gilda as a roommate back in flight camp, remember?” “And since you’re the adventurous type, you tried some of her food, which is largely meat based, and liked it.” I point out as I place her plate back in front of her. “Exactly! Just don’t tell anypony, alright? I have a reputation to uphold!” Twilight sighs before looking at Rainbow Dash and smiling. “Alright, Rainbow Dash. While I find it strange, I respect what you eat and won’t judge you for it.” She says with all the girls agreeing with her. “Thanks guys.” We make small talk for the rest of dinner, mostly about what we did this morning. Basically, they each did the same thing I did, nothing. Well, nothing productive. Rainbow is the first to finish her meal (Does everything have to be about speed with her?) and Rarity the last.  I take their plates and start washing them off.         “Please, allow me to help you with that, dear. It’s the least I could do to repay you for being a gracious host.”         “Um, I want to help too. That is, if you want me to.”         “Thanks for the offer but there is really no need. I can handle a few dishes by myself.”         “But I must insist that I repay you in some way.”         “You really want to repay me that much, Rarity? Then how about you make me an outfit for this Gala. I could use some new clothes.”         “Of course. I already have a splendid idea in mind for you. Just come by the boutique so I can get your measurements.”         “Sounds good. While I finish up here, why don’t the rest of you head into the living room and get comfortable?” I hear the clopping of hooves behind me as they leave the kitchen. After finishing the dishes, I walk into the living room. Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy are sitting on the couch and Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow are sitting on the floor in front of it. “So, y’all ready for this?”         “Duh! Of course we are! I even brought my own popcorn!” Pinkie reaches into her hair and pulls out a bucket of popcorn. Must. Resist. Urge. To. Scream. She offers the bucket to Rarity. “You want some?”         Rarity eyes the container. “Thank you for the offer, Pinkie, but I’m afraid I’m still full from dinner.”         “More for me then!” She dives headfirst into the bucket.         I just gotta block out Pinkie being Pinkie for now. I walk over to the TV stand and start scanning the shelves for a suitable movie. I settle on a classic movie that I grew up loving, Home Alone. After inserting it into the Xbox, I shut off the lights and take a seat on the couch between Fluttershy and Rarity. Grabbing the controller and TV remote, I fire up the movie.         I place my hands behind my head, cross my legs, and lean back into the couch. As the movie chugs along, we all laugh at the various forms of punishment Marv and Harry receive from Kevin, along with the various misfortunes that happen to Kevin. Of course, I have to stop the movie at certain points to explain to them things found in the movie, like cars and Christmas. Once the movie finishes and the credits start rolling, I stand up and go turn on the lights. I hear groans as I blink my eyes to adjust to the sudden change in light.         “So, what did you all think?”         “That was funny! I like the part when Harry opened the door and the flames went WHOOSH and burnt his hair and he dove in the snow to put it out!”         “I thought the heartfelt ending was the best part. Kevin learned a valuable life lesson about family.”         “I must agree with you there, Twilight.”         “The looks on their faces as they got pranked was the best! I wouldn’t mind hanging out with that kid.”         “Oh, um, it was funny. I just hope they’re alright…”         “Now that there was funnier than Big Mac trying ta learn tap dancing!”         I glance at the clock on the wall which reads eight-thirty. “Thanks for coming over girls. I could get used to having you over for movies all the time.”         “I had a great time. Did you, girls?” Twilight asks them, who agree.         I lead them to the door and usher them out, thanking each of them as they leave. As Applejack steps out the door, I wave to them and bid them a goodnight which they return. Just as I’m about to shut the door, Pinkie sticks her head back in.         “Blake! I almost forgot your order!” She reaches into her hair and pulls out a pink box with a red bow. Taking the box from her, I open it just to check if she brought the right thing. Sure enough, she brought me a dozen cannolis. I nod to her. “Thanks, Pinkie.” “You’re welcome!” Her head disappears back outside. I shut the door behind her and head towards my Xbox, shutting it and the TV off. After a quick shower, I crawl into bed and embrace sleep.