It was a wonderful day in Ponyville when Pinkie Pie, her husband Cheese Sandwich, and their children Cheesecake and Chocolate Strawberry were trotting through town together. “It is gorgeous, super, duper, fantabulous day,” said Pinkie Pie.
“You said it mom. Today is great,” said Cheesecake.
“It’s a super, duper, perfect-for-a-party day,” said Cheese Sandwich.
“It’s fine I guess,” said Strawberry.
“Strawberry. Is there something wrong my little cupcake,” said Pinkie Pie.
“No mommy. It’s just I-”
“OH MY CELESTIA,” yelled Cheesecake. “We should plan a party to celebrate what an amazing day today is!”
“That’s a good idea Cheesecake,” said Cheese Sandwich.
“Yeah we should do that. Cheesecake, you are so much like your father and I when we were younger.”
“Thanks mom. I’d have to say I agree with you. Don’t you agree Berry?”
“Well, sure. I mean you plan parties like them, you’re crazy like them, and you make everypony around you smile. You basically are them in eighteen year old mare form.”
“Strawberry sweetie,” started Pinkie “You were about to say something weren’t you?”
“Never mind mommy. It’s not important.”
“Are you sure,” asked Cheese Sandwich.
“Yes I’m sure.”
“It’s okay if it’s not okay sis. We’re your family. You can tell us anything. We’re here for you,” said Cheesecake.
“Strawberry, please tell us if there is something wrong ever,” said Pinkie, “You’re only fourteen years old. At this age I understand you can be a bit emotional. I mean once you start growing up your body will start changing and-”
“Okay mommy! I get the idea. Trust me on this one I’m fine. Now why don’t you three go ahead and gather party supplies. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Okay,” said Cheese Sandwich.
“Okie dokie lokie,” said Cheesecake.
“Are you sure Strawberry?”
“Mom! I said I’m fine!”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Don’t worry mom. I will.”
————————————————————————————————————————
Strawberry was walking back to her home with her head down. “I know I lied to them, but I don’t want them feeling bad for me. Why do I have to be so different.” As she was walking, she saw Misty panting over by the Ponyville fountain. “Hey Misty.”
“Hey. Straw. Berry. How. Are. You,” said Misty trying to catch her breathe.
“I’m fine, but what about you? Why are you so out of breathe?”
“I’m trying to increase my wing power,” explained Misty.
“Why exactly? For all the years that I’ve known you, which is basically all my life, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of you living your life in the “fast lane”. It just doesn’t seem like you.”
“Oh. It’s nothing.”
“You sure. I mean I can imagine your mom, dad, and brother doing something like this. I mean your mom’s wing power is 25.7, your dad’s is 17.2, and your brother’s is 10.0.”
“Yeah…”
“By the way what’s your wing power?”
“6.3”
“What was that?”
“6.3”
“Wow that’s impressive.”
“No it’s not! It may seem like a lot to you, but your just an earth pony. No offense.”
“Non taken. I imagine wing power is a huge thing for pegasi like you.”
“Yeah. I know I have a greater wing power than some ponies, but I want my wing power to be stronger.”
“Why do you care about it so much?”
“Well-”
“Misty!”
“Oh, hi mom,” said Misty.
“Mist, what are you doing out here,” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Nothing mom.”
“Okay. Oh hey there Strawberry. What are you doing?”
“I’m doing nothing at the moment,” Strawberry stated. “My parents and sister are getting party supplies for a party.”
“What is the party for,” asked Rainbow Dash.
“It’s for today being wonderful.”
“Of course they would,” said Rainbow Dash smiling.
“Um mom. What did you come here for,” asked Misty.
“Oh yeah. I need your help at the house.”
“What did Rainboom destroy this time?”
“Like half the house.”
Okay. Well I’ll see you later Strawberry. Bye!”
“Bye Mist!” Skyler then flew off with her mom as Strawberry continued walking by herself.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Rainbow Dash and Misty flew together to there cloud home.
“So what were you doing out in Town Square,” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Excuse me,” asked Misty.
“When you left you never said where you were going.”
“Oh well, I wasn’t doing anything really.”
“Uh huh. Why are you wearing those goggles?”
Misty looked up at her mane. She had forgotten she was wearing a pair of goggles. “Um, I have no idea,” Misty said trying to act serious.
“Come on Aura Mist," she said using her daughter's full name. "I’m not that gullible.”
“I know, I know.”
“So would you like to tell me what you were doing.” Misty looked down shamefully. She didn’t want to tell Rainbow what she was doing. The most important thing she didn’t want Rainbow to know was why she was doing it. “Hey. Is something wrong sweetie?”
“No mom. I’m fine,” Misty said obviously trying to hide her feelings. Rainbow Dash then flew in front of Misty.
“Misty, I know that voice. I’ve used that voice when I was your age. I know you were doing something. I know you don’t want to tell me why you were doing it. Is there something going on?” Misty just looked away. “Mist, please. As your mother I want to know what’s going on, and I want to help with whatever you are going through.” Despite Rainbow's tough and tomboyish attitude, she had become very motherly ever since Misty was born.
“I really don’t want to talk about it mom. I just don’t,” said Misty. Rainbow Dash decided just to stop. She knew that Misty was easily emotional. Rainbow was the kind of mother who cared about her daughter’s feelings, but didn’t want to dig too deep due to Misty's emotional side. “So why did Rainboom destroy like half the house. You know other than the reason that he’s a twelve year old colt.”
“He’s training for the Best Young Flyer’s Competition.”
“Oh yeah that’s right. Why didn’t he go outside and practice.”
“Who knows.” After that they were back to awkward silence. A memory came into Rainbow’s mind that made her smile and feel warm inside. “Do you remember when you entered the Best Young Flyer’s Competition?”
“Yeah. How can I forget?”
“You know, that day was probably the most I’ve ever been proud of you. Not only were you a little filly who won the competition, but you also got your cutie mark in that competition. As your mother, you getting your cutie mark was one of the best moments in my life.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. How could I not be proud of my little girl.”
“I can think of a few reasons,” Misty muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Let’s just go home. I’m really tired.”
———————————————————————————————————————————
Chocolate Strawberry had just arrived home when the rest of her family were already home planning the party. “Hey everypony,” said Strawberry as she walked through the door.
“Hey sis. What took you so long to get home,” asked Cheesecake.
“Oh I just ran into Misty and Rainbow Dash. Nothing big and special.” Strawberry then headed up the stairs towards her room.
“Hey sweetie,” said Pinkie. “You wanna help with the party. I know there was the incident three years ago but-”
“Do you have to mention the incident mommy.”
“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t help.”
“Mommy, I basically ruined that party. I just don’t want to ruin this party.”
“Sweetie you were only eleven at the time. You’re a teenager now, and you’ve grown up.”
“Still. I just don’t want to let everypony down. You guys make it so easy to make ponies smile. For me it’s just easy to let ponies down.”
“Sweetie I-”
“I’m just going to go upstairs now. You can go back to planning the party,” Strawberry said while trying to put a smile on her face.
“Oh-Okay.” Pinkie then headed back to plan the party with a solemn look on her face.
“Is everything okay Pinkie,” asked Cheese Sandwich.
“I-I don’t know. I feel like you should be asking Strawberry that. I definitely feel like something’s wrong.”
“I know what you mean. She’s been down lately. I wish there was something we could do,” said Cheese Sandwich.
“Maybe I could talk to her,” said Cheesecake.
“You sure you can get through to her,” asked Cheese Sandwich.
“I’m not entirely sure, but I can try. She’s my little sister. If I’ve learned anything from having a sister is that sisters are the ponies who are always there for you.”
“Where did you learn that,” asked Pinkie.
“Well a few ponies taught me it. That would include Aunt Applejack, Aunt Rarity, and you mom.”
“I taught you that?”
“Well you all didn’t like talk to me about it, but I’ve seen you with your sisters. By the way which are the best aunts ever.”
“Well, I guess you can talk to her. I’d really appreciate it if somepony could at least talk to her,” Pinkie said smiling at her eldest child.
—————————————————————————————————————————
“Hey sis,” said Cheesecake poking her head in her sister’s room.
“Hey,” Strawberry said. Cheesecake then walked in and closed the door behind her. “What are you doing?”
“I came here to talk to you. I thought it would be best if mom and dad would not hear. I’m guessing you don’t want them to know”
“I guess your right.”
“Strawberry, you wanna tell me what’s going on. We’re all worried about you.”
“Cheesecake, I-I don’t know.”
“How long has it been going on?”
“As long as I could remember.”
“Wow. That’s a long time.”
“Yeah.”
“You wanna tell me now.” Strawberry just shrugged her shoulders. “Come one Strawberry. I’m your older sister. You can tell me anything.”
“Well-”
“YES!?!”
“Would you let me explain.”
“Sorry.”
“Ever since I could remember, your personality is just like mommy and daddy’s. You’re crazy. You’re funny. You’re a party planner like them, though you do center towards little fillies and colts. Most of all, you’re able to make everypony smile wherever you go. I can’t even do half the things I you, mommy, or daddy do.” Cheesecake was stunned by what she was hearing from her little sister. “I guess what I’m saying is, I feel like mommy and daddy are more proud of your accomplishments than mine. All I do is make sweet treats. It says it right there in my cutie mark,” Strawberry said pointing at her cutie mark, which is a chocolate covered strawberry. “Sure they do get excited for me sometimes, but it happens more often to you than me.”
“Oh Strawberry. I had no idea. If you would’ve told me I could-”
“It’s alright Cheesecake. It’s not your fault. You never meant to do it. It’s just destiny I guess.”
“You know mom and dad are worried about you. If you tell them-”
“Please don’t tell them how I feel! I don’t want them feeling bad. I didn’t want you to feel bad either. That’s why I never said anything.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell them, but they’re still going to worry.”
“They’ll get over it. They always do.” When Strawberry said that, Cheesecake’s heart nearly shattered into pieces.
“Well, I’m going to go back downstairs. Need anything?”
“Nope. I’m fine.”
“Well, okay. See you later I guess.”
“See ya later sis.”
———————————————————————————————————————
Back at Rainbow Dash’s family’s cloud home, Misty and her had just finished fixing up the house.
“Wow. I never thought that we would get it done in time,” said Rainbow Dash.
“Me neither. I guess that’s what happens when you have the best mother-daughter pair in Equestria,” said Misty.
“You are definitely my daughter.”
“Yeah.”
“Now do you wanna tell me what you were doing?”
“What?”
“You know what I mean.” Misty just looked at Rainbow with a confused look. “Come on now Aura Mist. You can tell me.”
“Mom, I know you mean well, but I just don’t want to talk about it. Okay? Can this be just one of those times where you let me fix my own problems?”
“Okay sweetie, but if anything happens ever I’m gonna come straight to you if you need me. Got it?”
“Got it.” Misty then flew upstairs and headed towards her room. That’s when her younger brother, Rainboom, noticed her.
“Hey Mist,” said Rainboom.
“Oh hey Rainboom. What’s up?”
“Nothing. Just standing up here while you and mom clean up my mess.”
“Yeah what was that all about?”
“I was practicing.”
“Hey. You know there’s this wonderful thing known as outside. It’s way better place to practice than in A FREAKING CLOUD HOUSE!”
“Yeah I guess I should have thought about that first.”
“Yes you should have.”
“Hey Mist?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you all upset?”
Misty looked at her younger brother. Normally he could really care less about her, but there was something in him that told him that it was an obligation to make sure his sister was okay. It’s not that often when Rainboom wants to make sure Misty is fine. “Do you really want to know,” Misty asked knowing she couldn’t get out of it. Rainboom immediately nodded his head. Misty then looked to see where their mother was. She was still downstairs fixing up little things in the house. “Come with me.” Misty then brought Rainboom into her room and shut the door behind her.
“Why are we in here,” Rainboom asked.
“I don’t want mom to hear.”
“Okay. Now that she can’t hear us, spill.”
“Okay fine. You see I’ve never been a fan of living life in the fast lane like you, mom, or dad. Mom is Wonderbolt, dad is a Co-Captain of he Wonderbolts, and you strive to become a Wonderbolt. As for me, I still don’t really have a career in mind. I’m going to guess it has something to do with flying through the sky with rain making rainbows or something. That's what I got my cutie mark in doing,"
“So you’re confused about what your future is?”
“No. My point is ponies see you three as ‘important ponies’ and see me as just that one pony who’s related to them. You guys are like a big ball of shining light and I’m just a shadow. To be honest, I feel like mom and dad have most of their pride in you because you’re like their legacy child and here I am not being known all over Equestria. Yeah you guys are there to protect me and mom’s there if I need to talk to somepony, but I don’t feel like you guys are proud of me. I still remember in school when I was a filly; they would say mean this to me because I was different from my family.”
“Misty, I never knew. How come you never told mom this?”
“I don’t want her to find out. I don’t want her feeling bad for me. That’s why I haven’t told her.”
“Okay.”
“Now that you know this, promise me you won’t tell mom.”
“I promise.”
Misty scanned her brother up and down. She wasn’t sure if he would be able to keep it from their mother, so she took extreme measures. “Pinkie Promise?”
Rainboom got a little nervous after she said that. He realized then that he was going to get no where if he didn’t. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. There, I Pinkie Promise.”
—————————————————————————————————————
Later that day, Rainbow Dash and Rainboom went out to town and just flew around. They usually get some mother-son bonding through this.
“Oh how I love the outdoors and flying,” Rainboom said while doing flips in the air.
“If that’s so, then why were you practicing for the Best Young Flyers Competition in the house,” Rainbow replied.
“Details, details,” Rainboom said waving his hoof at his mother.
“I wonder what’s been going on with your sister.”
“What?”
“I mean your sister has been acting strange lately. Haven’t you noticed.”
“Um I uh-Nope. Haven’t noticed at all,” Rainboom said as he smiled trying to look like he didn’t know anything.
“Do you have any ideas to why your sister could be acting like that?”
“No!”
“Are you sure?”
Rainboom didn’t know what to say at this point. He was gonna have to tell her. Luckily, he noticed a couple of ponies on the ground. “Hey look! It’s Pinkie Pie and Cheesecake.” Both Rainbow Dash and Rainboom flew down to them.
“Hey Pinkie, hey Cheesecake,” said Rainbow.
“Hiya Rainbow Dash. And hello to you Mr. Rainboom,” said Pinkie Pie.
“Hi Mrs. Pinkie Pie. How are you,” said Rainboom.
“I’m just swell. Well, except for the fact that Chocolate Strawberry has been acting strange lately.”
Rainboom did a quick look at Cheesecake. She had the face of somepony wanting to say something, but couldn’t. “Maybe she’s in the same situation that I’m in,” Rainboom said to himself.
“Chocolate Strawberry’s acting strange,” asked Rainbow. “Misty's acting strange too.”
“Oh my Celestia. By acting strange do you mean looking depressed at all?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. Our daughter’s must have the same thing wrong with them.”
“Probably do,” Cheesecake muttered to herself.
“Oh what was that Cheesecake,” Pinkie asked.
“Nothing.”
Rainbow and Pinkie continued to walk and talk about how their daughters have been acting.
“So you know what’s wrong with your sister,” Rainboom whispered at Cheesecake.
“Yeah. I’m gonna guess same goes for you,” Cheesecake whispered.
“Yeah.”
“So what’s making my best friend depressed’?”
“Basically, she’s living in the shadow of my parents and I.”
“Really?! Strawberry’s basically living in the shadow of my parents and myself.”
“I can’t believe our sisters are upset about the same thing,” Rainboom yelled.
“Me too. Isn’t this exciting,” Cheesecake yelled.
Pinkie and Rainbow looked at their respective child. “So you do know why Misty's been depressed,” said Rainbow.
“Same goes for you young lady,” said Pinkie.
“You two wanna spill the beans,” asked Rainbow.
“I really can't because I Pinkie Promised,” said Rainboom.
“Dang it,” said Pinkie. “Why do Pinkie Promises have to interfere?”
“Well I didn’t Pinkie Promise, and I can’t keep it in anymore so I’ll tell you guys,” said Cheesecake. Both mares payed very close attention the the younger mare. “Mom, Strawberry feels like you and dad aren’t proud of her and are more proud of me. I’m basically you and dad put together. I’m pretty sure everypony in Ponyville could see that.” Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement. “You see, we are so much alike. Strawberry is different from us. She’s not as crazy, not a party planner, and she has a harder time making ponies smile. She basically feels like the odd one out. Basically, she’s living in the shadow of you, dad, and me.”
“I had no idea,” said Pinkie.
“As for Misty,” Cheesecake said turning to Rainbow Dash, “I believe she’s upset about basically the same thing. She’s living in the shadow of you, Soarin, and Rainboom. She’s the odd one out. I do remember her saying that she was going to get her wing power up today.”
“So that’s why she was out earlier,” Rainbow said.
“Yeah. She feels embarrassed that she’s nothing like you guys. She used to get picked on for being different back in school.” Rainbow looked at Cheesecake in disbelief. “That is why she’s upset right,” Cheesecake asked Rainboom.
“Yep. That’s basically it.”
“How did you know all that,” Rainbow asked.
“I know everything about my best friends. What would you expect. I’m the daughter of the one and only Pinkie Pie,” said Cheesecake.
“Now what,” asked Rainboom.
“Well, why don’t you guys get you sisters, so we all can have a little talk,” said Pinkie Pie.
——————————————————————————————————————
Both Cheesecake and Rainboom came back with both of their sisters.
“So why did you bring us here,” asked Misty.
“Yeah. What’s going on,” asked Strawberry.
“Come here girls,” said Rainbow Dash.
“We’re gonna have a little talk,” said Pinkie Pie.
“Now we both know why you two have been depressed lately,” said Rainbow Dash.”
‘We know you guys have been living in our shadows respectively,” said Pinkie Pie.
Both Misty and Strawberry were shocked that their mothers have found out. “Cheesecake,” Strawberry yelled.
“Hey I never Pinkie Promised not to tell,” said Cheesecake.
“That’s true.”
“Rainboom! You Pinkie Promised not to tell,” yelled Misty.
“I didn’t tell. Cheesecake told,” said Rainboom.
“But how did she-Nevermind don’t answer that,” said Skylar.
“How come you didn’t say anything,” asked Pinkie Pie.
“I didn’t want you to feel bad for me,” said Strawberry.
“Yeah. I didn’t want you feeling bad for me either,” Misty said to her mother.
“Misty, I feel even worse about it now that somepony else told instead of yourself,” said Rainbow Dash. Misty looked ashamed.
“Look girls, sometimes it’s best to tell us how you are feeling. It’s better to tell now, so you can let it go later,” said Pinkie.
“That’s right. If you didn’t tell us, your thoughts would have taken over and turn it into a much bigger problem,” said Rainbow Dash.
“I’m sorry mom,” said Misty.
“I’m sorry too,” said Strawberry.
“It’s not your faults,” said Pinkie, “It could have happened to anypony.”
“Plus you girls learned a very important lesson in the end,” said Rainbow Dash.
“I guess you’re right,” said Misty.
“Hey. you know what this calls for,” Strawberry said looking up at her mother.
“That’s right. A party,” said Pinkie Pie.
‘Come on everypony. Let’s get to Sugarcane Corner so we can start decorating,” said Cheesecake.
“Yeah. It’ll be awesome,” said Rainboom.
Both sets of families headed towards Sugarcube Corner to celebrate not only a beautiful day, but also the girls learning a very important lesson.