A couple of days passed by and the town wound down from Rainbow's birthaversary (and the 'Welcome-To-Ponyville-Cheese-Sandwich-So-You-Can-Figure-Out-Your-Element-And-Help-Us-Figure-Out-The-Mystery-Box' party that Pinkie and Cheese through the day after). Rainbow wore her new necklace around town for a while before deciding to keep it safe at home and wear it for special occasions. Pinkie Pie got back into her groove of being Ponyville's premier party pony and apprentice baker and life went on for everypony.
Surprisingly though, the group didn't hear or see much of Cheese Sandwich. He was spotted a few times around town, getting a look of the place and appearing to be double checking all of Pinkie Pie's weird emergency stashes she had hidden around Ponyville (Midnight had once asked her why she was stuffing a Pineapple into a tree, only for her to respond that it was part of her zombie invasion plan. He hadn't asked any further questions and immediately trotted away), but he otherwise didn't seem to interact with anypony. This greatly surprised everypony (barring Pinkie Pie, who when questioned had merely responded with 'Spoilers' and bounced away) who had all assumed Cheese Sandwich take on a similar duty as Pinkie Pie and make his presence around town very well known.
Still he wasn't causing any problems and on the few interactions that they did have with him, he seemed to be fitting in well and acting happy, so the group chalked it up to 'Cheese Sandwich being Cheese Sandwich' and left him to his town exploration.
Eventually it came time for the guys’ weekly-meet at 'Pepper Pony's' the local pizza joint so they could all catch up and hang out while the girls all went to the spa (though whether they could drag Rainbow there was pretty hit and miss). As the five stallions shuffled inside, the restaurant's owner, a red coated, orange & yellow maned pegasus mare called Mrs. Chili Spice, or Auntie Spice as she preferred to be called, came to greet them as she usually did. Mrs. Spice was a very motherly mare, around Mrs. Cake's age, though unlike some of the other more maternal mares around town, she was a very sassy no-nonsense sort. She always wanted to hear the latest gossip and make her opinions on events known, but if you ever wanted some advice or just a friendly shoulder to lean on, she was there in a heartbeat. She was good friends with the element bearers, who had all taken to her as a sort of mother-figure. It was with her advice that Soarin had worked up the nerve to ask Rainbow on their first date and she became a regular ear to vent on for Thunderlane when Rainbow Dash's bad habits at work took their toll on him. Everypony loved her, and she in turn loved them back, always looking after them and sneaking them the occasional free pizza or sodas when she could afford to.
"Here for your usual hangout, boys? I reserved your booth for you like always and I got your usual order already started," she said, brushing a loose strand of her mane back into the messy bun she had done it up in, hooking it up behind her green bandana.
Midnight grinned and gave her a nod of appreciation, "Thanks, Auntie Spice, we're starving right now and nothing can fill us up like a Pepper Pony's pizza."
"Don't worry about it Midnight, I'll always look out for my favorite stallions. Now I best head back to the kitchen. We have a new staff member starting off and while he seems pretty experienced, I want to make sure he can make a pizza to my standards."
With that, the elder mare gestured to a nearby booth and retreated back into the kitchen. The guys all squeezed in and started there guys afternoon.
"So Mac, the wedding isn't far away now. You feeling nervous?" Thunderlane asked giving the big red stallion a nudge. Big Mac brightened at the topic, though he tensed a little as well.
"Well Ah'm certainly excited. Finally tying the knot with my sweet Shy is going to be the best day o’ my life. Still, Ah do worry that it might be a bit much for Fluttershy t’ stand up there in front o’ everypony as th’ center of attention. Ah know in my heart she wants t’ be married as much as Ah do, but she never has handled being everypony's focus. Ah really don' wan’ her to feel uncomfortable or upset on our big day."
Thunderlane and Blueblood, the stallions on either side of him each gave the big red workhorse an encouraging pat on the shoulder as Midnight across from him voiced their collective thoughts.
"Mac, while this will probably be a bit outside of Fluttershy's comfort zone, we've all seen how much she loves you and wants to be with you. When the day comes and she sees you at the end of that aisle, standing by that altar, I don't think anything will stop her from trotting down that aisle to be with you. She may be a bit nervous and shy, but when it’s really important, she can be one of the bravest ponies around, and for your wedding day, I know she'll let nothing hold her back."
"Definitely big guy, you got nothing to worry about. Besides, we'll all be there, and the girls will all be there. She'll be surrounded by ponies who care about her as she stands in front of the guy who loves her with all his heart. It will be a perfect day for both of you." Soarin added with a smile. Big Mac looked around the table at all the encouraging smiles and he bowed his head in gratitude.
"Thanks you guys. Y’all `r th’ best friends an ol’ workhorse like me could ask for."
"Well totally! They are the most superific friends in Equestria and so are you!"
A pizza slammed down on the table in front of everypony starling them all. After blinking away the shock they all turned to find their newest friend Cheese sandwich standing in front of their table with a wide grin. However he wasn't just wearing his usual yellow shirt. He also had an apron on and a red cap with 'Pepper Pony's' emblazoned on it.
"Hey Cheese, it's good to see you. We haven't seen much of you since you decided to stick around Ponyville. What's with the hat and apron?" Thunderlane asked reaching out to grab a piece of the pizza at the center of the table.
Cheese gave a big smile before leaning forward on the table to get as close to the guys as possible.
"Well Thunderlane my good stallion, I got myself a new job here! Yepperooni, you guys are looking at the newest employee of Pepper Pony's! Isn't that fan-fiddily-tastic?!"
As the group all gave their congratulations, Blueblood levitated himself a slice of the pizza, being careful not to get grease on his shiny coat.
"Why Cheese that is excellent news. When did this turn of events occur?"
"Well it all happened like this. CUE FLASHBACK!"
"Wait wha..."
Flashback
Cheese looked at his checklist to confirm he had finished looking at all of Pinkie's emergency item locations (and adding a few of his own in the process) so he could be prepared for the future. However now that his task was complete, he was at a loss of what to do next. With him now staying in Ponyville, he couldn't really continue his profession of being a traveling party planner, so he now needed a job, as well as a place to stay.
As he puzzled, the pegasus mare Mrs. Chill Spice approached him. "Hey there sugar, you seem a bit lost. You need some help with anything?"
Cheese looked at her and gave an exuberant nod. "You betcha. I'm here in Ponyville to stay, but I don't really have a place to sleep or job to eat and buy party supplies with. I hope I can think of something or me and my pal Boneless 2 are gonna have to mooch off our new friends, and that isn't a very friendly thing to do.
Mrs. Spice gave a thoughtful nod before examining him a bit closer. He seemed a fit young stallion, a bit hyper, but with Pinkie Pie living in town, hyper was all relative. His cutie mark seemed to be a tasted cheese sandwich split like an accordion, which made it difficult to tell precisely what his special talent was. Still, he eager for work and in need of a place to stay. Perhaps she could offer some help.
"Well if you're needing a place to stay and looking for a job, I might have a solution for you. I own and run Pepper Pony's, the local pizza joint, and currently I'm in need of a new staff member to help cook and wait tables. I also happen to have a spare room with me in my loft above the store. If you have some knowledge of cooking or you're good with talking to ponies, I wouldn't hiring you on and letting you stay in my spare room. You'll need to work hard though. I'm all for helping ponies, but I won't promote laziness. If you come live in my house and work in my restaurant, you need to be ready to always do your best."
The mare suddenly felt herself get swept up in a big hug from the wacky earth pony. "Ooh thanks a bunch. I promise I'll do my best and make you proud. By the way, I don't think I introduced myself. I'm Cheese Sandwich, party planner extraordinaire!"
"Well Cheese sandwich, I'm glad to help. My name is Chili Spice, but everypony calls me Auntie Spice, and I'm looking forward to working with you. Now follow me and I'll show you your new room."
End Flashback
"And that's how Equestria was made!"
"Well it's not quite how Equestria was made, but it was certainly a great tale. I'm glad Auntie Spice could help you out. She's a wonderful mare and she'll take care of you." Blueblood gave him a warm smile as the group all finished off the pizza. Seeing that the food was all gone, the mare in question hovered over to the table.
"I'm glad to see you boys already know my newest employee. However you can all play with your friend when his shift is over. Cheese we have customers waiting, so back to the kitchen please."
"Yes ma'am!" the goofy pony saluted before diving back through the order window and into the kitchen, ignoring all the odd looks he received from other restaurant customers. Auntie Spice just shook her head with a smile on her muzzle.
"Oh he's an odd one that boy, but I think I'll like having him around. He'll fit into Ponyville, just fine."
All the stallions gave a holler of agreement before resuming their discussion of Mac's wedding. When their new friend got off his shift, they would invite him to join them.
Their circle of friends now felt truly complete.