//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 - A Very Special Friend // Story: Pint's Birthday Party - Part 2 // by Yosh-E-O //------------------------------// The wonderful scent of grilled vegetables filled Fall’s nose upon walking into the front yard of Pint’s house. “Mmm,” she hummed while taking in a deep sniff through her nose. “Yeah,” remarked Bucky as he rubbed at his belly. “Pint’s dad makes the best food.” Bucky looked out to see if he could spot Pint. “Ah!” he proclaimed while facing towards the grill. “I should’ve figured he’d be over there.” Fall looked around the grill and saw Pint amidst a group of children, Pint’s dad, Bucky’s uncle, and a few other adults. “Hey!” cried a cheerful voice. “You’re here!” Fall looked in the direction the voice had called out from and saw a familiar, pink Pegasus galloping towards her. “Uh…,” thought Fall as she tried to remember the filly’s name. “It’s me!” the pink Pegasus exclaimed. “Candy Cloud!” Fall grew a bright smile upon being reminded of the friend she had made while attending Pint and Bucky’s school about two weeks ago during ‘Bring Your Sibling to School Day’. Bucky smiled upon seeing Fall meetup with her friend from her school visit. “I’ll go get Pint,” he said as he trotted towards the grill. “What do you think?” asked Candy Cloud as she playfully shook her head. “I’m just like you!” Fall didn’t quite know what to say until she noticed Candy Cloud’s white mane being tied in pigtails with a blue bow on top of her head. “Your mane…,” said Fall. Candy Cloud giggled before asking, “Do you like it?” “Uh…,” thought Fall as she tried to figure out the right thing to say. “Well?” persisted Candy Cloud. “Do you? Did I do a good job making my mane like yours?” “Yeah…,” replied Fall. “But…, uh…, why?” Candy Cloud’s green eyes glimmered as her smile grew from ear-to-ear. “Because,” cheered the pink Pegasus as she embraced Fall. “You’re awesome!” Fall put her hoof around Candy Cloud to better take in the hug she was so cheerfully receiving. “I’m…, what?” she asked. Candy Cloud stepped back and flapped her wings while letting out a whinny. “You’re my best friend!” she announced. “I am?” asked Fall as her blue eyes widened. “Yep!” squeaked Candy Cloud. “Have you asked your mom or dad if we can have a play date yet?” “A what?” asked Fall. Candy Cloud lifted herself on her hind hooves and playfully peddled her front hooves in front of Fall. “A play date!” she exclaimed. “It’s when you ask your mommy, or daddy, if we can get together to play!” Fall didn’t know how to answer. The concept of a ‘Play Date’ was as new to her as a lot of other things she had experienced ever since Bucky helped her get out of the orphanage to attend Pint’s birthday party today. “I know!” cried Candy Cloud. “How’s about we go and ask your mom and dad about having a play date?” “Umm…,” gasped Fall. The pink Pegasus pranced around in circles. “You just point to where your mommy and daddy are at and I’ll go tell them about what besties we are so we can play together! Perhaps even tomorrow!” “Tomorrow?” panicked Fall. “Hey!” shouted another familiar voice. “I thought I saw you!” Candy Cloud stopped her prancing as her fellow classmate, River Runner, approached. “So…,” grinned River Runner as he slid his hoof on the ground. “Did you read my cards for me yet?” “Your cards?” asked Fall. “Oh…, yeah! Those Backyard Brawlers cards you gave me.” “I didn’t ‘give’ them to you,” stated River Runner. “You were supposed to read them, tell me about them, and give them back.” “I was?” asked Fall while taking a step back. “Hey!” shouted Candy Cloud as she faced the demanding, blue colt. “That’s not nice!” “They’re ‘my’ cards!” griped River Runner as he faced down Candy Cloud. “That you ‘gave’ to, Fall!” she snapped while flapping her wings and stomping her hoof. The blue colt backed away and sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said before putting his head down, his tail between his legs, and trotting off. Fall watched sadly as River Runner headed back into the groups of playing children. The way he appeared reminded her a lot of how she felt after someone was mean to her at the orphanage. “I’m sorry about that, Fall,” stated Candy Cloud. “River Runner still hasn’t learned how to share.” “…,” Fall sighed as she watched the blue colt pout. Then, as if nothing had happened, his ears perked up, his tail raised, and he started to gallop towards what appeared to be a grouping of children kicking a ball around. “Huh?” wondered Fall. How could he go from being so sad to so happy so quickly? When she was talked down to, or made to do chores, she never felt able to smile and be all happy again so quickly. “Wait…,” said Fall as she put her hoof to her muzzle. “Wait?” asked Candy Cloud. “Wait for what?” Fall thought on how Bucky and Pint had given her something happy to think about even during the saddest of times in the orphanage. Perhaps River Runner was the same way? He felt sad about what Candy Cloud said to him, but was reminded of his friends and was able to feel happy again? “Fall?” asked the pink Pegasus as she tilted her head in front of the little, brown Pegasus. “Are you okay?” “Yeah…,” she said. “I’m fine.” Candy Cloud resumed her prancing in circles. “So let’s go get that play date for tomorrow!” she exclaimed. Fall didn’t know what to do. She didn’t have a mom, or a dad. What if Candy Cloud found out she was an orphan? Would she’d still want to be her friend? “Right here, Pint!” announced Bucky as he and the brown-spotted Unicorn trotted alongside Fall and Candy Cloud. Pint gave Fall a hug as he said, “I’m glad you could make it, Fall.” “Me, too!” squeaked Candy Cloud as she jumped in to join in all the hugging. “Ah!” shrieked Pint as they all fell over. Bucky laughed as he said, “That’s the best tackle hug I’ve ever seen.” Pint got to his feet and said, “Yeah. I suppose so.” Bucky smiled as he looked towards Pint and said, “How about a friendly game of Backyard Brawlers?” Pint glared towards Bucky as he announced, “Today’s the day I take you down, Bucky!” “Ooh!” cheered Candy Cloud as she clapped her front hooves together. “Can I watch?” “Sure!” exclaimed Bucky. “Spoiler alert! I’m going to win!” “Not today!” proclaimed Pint before using a stepping stone to reach the doorknob for his house, opening the door, and dashing inward. “This is going to be awesome!” cheered Candy Cloud. Fall smiled and waited patiently beside Bucky and Candy Cloud for Pint to return with his Backyard Brawlers.