I gave a brief farewell to Gizmo before heading out of the lab; I just wanted to go home right now. I checked my new text group message; it seems that Dancer wanted to meet outside of school in an hour, no doubt about discussing the recent incident with her conversation with Lightbulb in our chat group. I think my bedroom can wait a few hours more without its master's presence so I agreed to meet with them.
I needed to kill some time, but where I should go? Maybe I could spend time in the library and make homework, and by saying 'make homework', I mean wasting my time viewing anything but something related to school in a computer. With a plan in mind, I headed to the library.
The place was a mess now unlike a few hours ago; there were students doing their homework and all PC's were occupied. Well, maybe I'll have to do my pending activities after all. I like doing work and projects in my bedroom instead of school. My PC was connected to my TV and it was so comfortable doing research in my bed. Normal people can't write well in the surface of a bed, but I mastered this ancient art for my greater comfort. The results are perfect since I don’t stress myself very often. At least, not when I am on my own. Let's see what I can advance in an hour inside this school.
I sat in one of the few available spots in here and proceeded to start working. The only thing I had to do in Ethics was a quick essay about what I understood in class and how I could apply morality in my daily life. Easy, I started to write my thoughts about it; words came easy as I pressured my pen while forming words in the sheets. My personal appliance to morality in my life would be trying to be myself in everything I do. It wasn't an easy task, but it was an ideal worth making a reality. It didn't took me so long, one page and half in under 6 minutes.
Next was trigonometry. Bridge had the kindness to give us easy problems to solve and he didn't gave us physics homework. These problems were eerie similar to my old teacher's problems back in the academy but with the new teachings of Santa Calculus, it didn’t take me long either. Ten minutes, giving me a grand total of sixteen minutes gone. Champion Sugarcoat would be proud, that bitch. Homework was plotting against me today. Normally when I want to play my games and I had HW to do, time would burn while doing it and only I would have like an hour or two to play… wait a minute! Since I don’t think it will take that long with Dancer and Lightbulb, I can be a parasite and play more than four hours after eating something and take a bath when I get back home.
Perfect.
I decided to get out of there. The library wasn't my kind of place anyway, so I would wait for them in the gardens of the school. As I arrived to the entrance, my sixth sense suddenly-
“YAY! I finally found you!” Someone turned me around with inhuman force. “You have been a veeeeeery elusive guy, but now you aren't going anywhere if I don’t say so!”
It was the Frightening Pink Girl! She came for me to take me to depths of hell! Her piercing, deep blue eyes made contact with mine. I was scared shitless of this girl; something about her gives me a very bad and unexplainable feeling. Her big and perfect smile didn't help in the matter, it was like being in front of a twisted Cheshire Cat.
“Wwhhat-”
“No time to talk! Let’s go!”
The strength of this girl was overwhelming. I was being dragged off like a small child being pulled from the arm from his angered mother. Gathering all the might from my arm, I freed myself from her grip and started running away.
“Where are you going? WAIT!” I tried to not turn back, but I needed to make sure I lost sight of her; I looked over my shoulder while keeping my pace. “COME BACK HERE!” A WILD ANIMAL IN HUMAN FORM WAS CHASING AFTER ME!! “WAIT!”
She was closing the gap at an alarming rate! Forget Dancer! I needed to hide and then run for home! I increased my speed as my heart pumped fresh blood through my system. I gave a quick turn in one corner and headed to the gym hall. I closed the door quickly and without thinking further, I hid myself behind the curtains of the stage.
Silence.
My heart beat was out the charts. I put my hands in my mouth to conceal my breathing. What was she? I didn't hear anyone walking in the main hall of the school. It was unworldly, not even the Pseudo Ninja Club from Crystal Prep was this stealthy and quiet. Was she the real deal?
Or perhaps Death has finally come for me. I always thought she was a dude but... she was pretty hot.
I took a quick and stealthy glance, crawling without leaving the safety of the curtain. Nobody was in the hall. She must have run in the other turn of the hallway. I decided to wait a few minutes to make sure it was a safe moment to make a run for it. I rested my body in the floor while still in crawling position to help keep momentum in case I needed to get up quickly and escape.
“Hehehehe, but I am worrying too much. She will never find me here.”
“WUH! So you wanted to play hide and seek with me! Why didn't you say so, Silly?”
My body froze in an instant. I suddenly felt the close presence of someone right beside me. How did she get here? There was no sound of a door opening, the floor that made a cringe noise with footsteps wasn’t heard either. She was in the floor, resting her chin in both of her hands and half of her body was behind the same curtain that was supposed to hide me. Her round face, makeup less pink lips, straight-edged nose and those happy deep-blue rounded eyes… breathtaking.
“But you know, we are losing time, we must hurry or we are going to be late. Play time is over!”
I give up; I immediately understood that running would be futile against Death. Something tells me that I was just delaying whatever horror she has prepared for me, so I followed her while keeping my distance… Scary this girl was. Thinking on my current dilemma, Flash words resonated in my mind and after seeing this girl's face better. He had a point; this school has indeed pretty girls in it.
And this one... this one I like too.
She slowed her pace and walked beside. “How was school today? Did you make friends today? Do you like this place?” Her speech was fast an almost unrecognizable.
“So-so, no and disliking it.” I answered straight and dry to not provoke something bad.
“Wow! Those are the shortest answers I ever heard in my life, but don’t worry! After you receive my little surprise, you will love this place and have many new people to call friends!”
She winked at me and gave me a warm hug. And why all people labeled me as a loner? Do I look that socially inept to everyone? But now I know why I was startled and afraid of this girl. She was one of those ‘toxic person’ kind. This cultural species of the human race are positive, easy going and social to the point of being sickening and scary. Last time I spoke with one of her kind, I was a made a laughing stock for a month. That’s why I became a normal person.
Normal people hate everyone from the start unless proved otherwise, think that everything is going to be wrong and you were going to end in a third grade job with a mediocre salary. There were always exceptions to the rule in the socializing aspect, Sunset for example. But this girl… she reeked of overly toxic vibes of optimmism that my senses over exaggerated the danger in her.
Now somewhat relaxed by knowing that she was just an annoying but extremely appealing girl instead of the murderous lunatic I was building in my mind since the start of the day, I started to ask her questions, not before thinking to myself that I was acting like a total cowardly moron a few moments ago, not to mention being paranoid with my friends and worrying Twilight for nothing. How embarrassing.
“Where are we going?”
“It. Is. A. Surprise!”
Damn that kind of paused speech.
“Who are you?”
“OH! So silly of me! I forgot my own rules of making friends while chasing you. Well, Let's start from the beginning!” She took a quick, deep breath.
“My name is Pinkie Pie (Hello!) “
Somebody tell me she is not singing right now.
“And I am here to say (How ya doin'?)”
She is singing…
“I'm gonna make you smile and I will brighten up your day”
You are brightening my day, alright. I can already feel the rain in my head.
“It doesn't matter now (What's up?)
If you are sad or blue (Howdy!)
'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do”
“Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile
Yes I do
It fills my heart with sunshine all the while
Yes it does
'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile
From these happy friends of mine “
I just noticed that we have arrived to the band room. Inside there was Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Sunset, Twilight, Rarity, the blonde girl from before and a few extra faces I haven't seen yet. There was a big cake, a wide variety of drinks and cupcakes in the table.
“I like to see you grin (Awesome!)
I love to see you beam (Rock on!)
The corners of your mouth turned up is always Pinkie's dream (High Five!)”
But if you're kind of worried
And your face has made a frown
I'll work real hard and do my best to turn that sad frown upside down”
Cause I love to make you grin, grin, grin
Yes I do
Bust it out from ear to ear let it begin
Just give me a joyful grin, grin, grin
And you fill me with good cheer”
Her song was catchy, even if the lyrics were cheesy and mellow.
“Pinkie Pie, that was amazing!”
“Ow, thanks Fluttershy, but I feel it still is incomplete!”
“Even so, it’s a catchy song, sugarcube! Maybe we can make a cover during band practice next Wednesday!”
“Fabulous idea, Applejack. Perhaps a classical approach would be ideal?”
So the cowgirl's name is Applejack. Thanks, overly fashionable girl. Listening closely, she had a southern accent. Those white freckles were adorable; her golden hair was western styled like her clothes. Father, I may find a girl for me here. Thinking about my taste in girls, I believe I admired feminine beauty far too much for today. Rainbow Dash made her presence known and started talking.
“Forget about the song, let's this welcoming party start!”
Everyone made a cheer of agreement. They started to welcome Twilight and me in unison. Phrases like “Welcome to CHS” and “A party for you!” made echo in this small room. Twilight quickly approached me; her eyes were brimming with never before seen happiness.
“Nitpick! They made a party for us! I really can’t believe it! Besides my family, nobody has ever throw a party for me! In this case, for us! Aren't you happy about this?”
“I can hardly contain my tears.”
I am surrounded by people I barely knew and they started treating me like some kind of celebrity. Twilight was enthusiastic about this. I was perplexed, and I needed to get out of here. Since I don’t need to worry about Pinkie's presence anymore, then I must quickly go to the school gardens and meet with my friends.
“Well, Twilight, enjoy the party. I need to go.”
Pinkie suddenly approached us.
“What? But we just arrived, here, take a cupcake, they are reeeaally good!” She pocked my arm with her shoulder.
“She is right, Nitpick. I had one of those during the Friendship Games and they are delicious.”
The cupcakes indeed looked good, they were carefully handcrafted; colorful sprinkles, fresh cream and the aroma of recent baked bread were quickly intercepted by my nose. I suppose I could stay for a few moments. I took the chocolate like cupcake and too a bite of it.
This sensation…
Godlike flavor and perfect balance between soft but consistent bread. The vanilla core was melting inside my mouth. I stopped thinking about everything but this moment. Savoring every single bit of it was pure bliss. To think that so much taste could be packed in a small cupcake was outrageous, but the hard truth was that I was having a good brief moment with sweets.
“Never before I had tasted such kind of perfection in my life!” I said in praise.
“I made them myself...” Pinkie blushed briefly “I'm glad you like it! There are more in the table, and if you are thirsty, there are a variety of fruit punches, soda and fizzy apple cider too!”
“Fizzy Apple Cider? That thing is the best drink ever! No reunion is complete without those!”
My family loves Apple Cider and wine, especially during Christmas. Not having the once a year, special gold brand cider from Sweet Apple Acres for the end of the year was considered a family failure to us.
“Did someone say Fizzy Apple Cider?”
“Oh He! He, he, he, he!”
Applejack approached us with two bottles of apple cider at hand. She removed the caps with her thumbs and gave me one.
“Here you go, pal. Enjoy!”
Can’t say no to that. The bottle was dead cold; the barely perceivable steam of the beverage was seducing me to drink the bottle's content. I slowly drank the cider, taking my sweet time to enjoy this delicious drink.
“Oh yeah…that hit spot”
Music engulfed the place; it was a mix between techno and high school musicals. Some of the people here started to dance, others were chatting with Twilight and I sat on a chair in the corner of the room… Is that a dog dancing in the crowd? Perhaps I'm just tired and I'm having hallucinations.
I could understand why this would be amazing for her; most, if not all of Crystal Prep Academy's student body treated her like someone unfriendly, unlikable, self-absorbed and boring. I was somewhat happy for her because people were actually engaging real and meaningful conversations with the young scientist, especially those girls.
Those girls… they emanate a mystic aura, like if they were above the ordinary. Especially…
“Enjoying yourself right there?”
You Sunset Shimmer.
“I am not the social type. I rather be here, I have to go soon anyway, I have an appointment to do with some people at school at three o’clock.”
And those people were my friends; I only had 7 minutes to go before arriving late with them. I was curious to ask her what was going on between Dancer and her, but this kind of issue is better left for another occasion when a bridge of trust was made… if there was to be one.
“Why don’t you invite them over here? There is still room for a few more people in here and if they are students of the school, tell them Pinkie is throwing a party. Nobody says no to a Pinkie Party!”
“With how she is, I don’t doubt that!”
“What do you mean?”
Crap.
“I mean, she is pretty energetic and looks like a very sociable person!”
So sociable that it sickens me. She made a small chuckle, succesfully conceiving my discomfort pretty well.
“That’s Pinkie Pie for you. Who are you going to meet with? If you don’t have their numbers, Pinkie can talk to them in your behalf using MyStable. She knows everyone at school.”
Scary.
“I have their numbers. I'll talk to them.”
“Great! I am going with Twilight, and don't be a stranger, chat with anyone, people here are very friendly.”
She soon approached Twilight and the girls. On the other hand, I took out my phone and started messaging the group.
-Nitpick: Guys, a girl named Pinkie Pie suddenly grabbed me to the band room and made a party for me and another new student from my old school. Lightbulb, could you come for me and help me get out here?
A few moments passed and I received an answer.
-Dancer: Pinkie Pie threw you a party? We’ll be right there, Beasty. (Cake) (Red Heart)
-Lightbulb: Be more sociable, bro. She is a rad girl.
Damn it. I quickly texted Lightbulb in a private conversation. If things were bad between Sunset and Dancer, I would like to prevent an all-out war.
-Nitpick: Sunset Shimmer is here.
Even with the loud volume of the music in here, I heard the sound of a notification. It was too late. The doors opened and my friend was there, paler than ever, besides his girlfriend.
“Owww Beasty, I thought you wouldn’t be able to socialize the first year in here but you quickly prove me wrong once again!”
Your sincerity was hurting my self-esteem in this moment.
“Choco, uh… we better get going. Let’s get to another place just the three of us like we planned."
“Why, Bulby? If it´s Pinkie, then there is no problem, that girl is just too much fun to not hang out with”
“I don’t like her, can we go now?”
“You don’t like anything, Beasty”
“That’s just a stereotype you labeled me with. I can like a lot of things given time.”
“Oh Dancer, good to see you. Did Pinkie Pie invite you too?”
“Hi, Lyra! Hi, Bon Bon! No, we just came to pick up this guy. Tell me, isn´t he adorable?”
Could you stop playing with my cheeks in front of girls, please? It´s embarrassing. Look, they are laughing, please stop.
“I think his face is funny right now”
I hate you, bicolor haired girl.
“Why don’t you try the cupcakes, Dancer? They are over there besides Sunset and company”
My cheeks were crushed instantly. I wanted to groan in pain but by seeing the face in front of me override that desire.
“Ah, well, hahaha, maybe another day, we should go, we need to catch on in private. Right, Bulby and Beasty?”
“Excellent idea, darling”
“Ah, bummer, Chocolate Dancer. Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, Lyra. Better get going, see you tomorrow”
After a brief farewell, we got outside the place. Her walking pace was fast and Lightbulb and I tried to keep up. Other footsteps soon were heard behind us.
“Wait”
It was Sunset.
“Why did you-“
“Hi, Sunset Shimmer”
COLD. I felt even colder than before with Pinkie, but where the former was just an exaggerated misunderstanding from my part, Dancer was a genuine threat in this moment. She started walking forward Sunset, her usual happy and social expression turned vile and vicious, her forced smile was creepy. Never in my middle school years would I ever think to see her like this. Lightbulb tried to stop her but to no avail.
“Oh… Hi Chocolate Dancer, how are you doing?”
Dancer closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her expression turning somewhat back normal.
“Fine. We just were looking for our childhood friend here”
“Wow, Nitpick, how wonderful to hear that you have friends here in school.”
Sunset said this genuinely, but there was a bit of concern and self-restriction in her tone… is she scared?
“Yes, he has us, so your plan to make him socialize is grateful, but nevertheless, pointless gesture. We don’t want any kind of misunderstandings or gossips circling around school, right?”
You made a terrifying emphasis in two words just now.
“There won’t be any of those, Pinkie Promise”
This exchange is wearing me out. I better do something.
“We should go. Thanks for organizing all of this for Twilight and me, it was a nice thought”
“Anytime, Nitpick, We will see again tomorrow”
I nod my head and turned around following my pair of friends who were already near the exit. I took a quick glance over Sunset and what I saw made me feel really bad and worried for her; she was rubbing her right arm and looking to the floor.
What soon followed was an awkward moment of silence. Lightbulb and I interchanged eye signs we developed during our years together as friends. Understanding his intention to part ways with them, I made an excuse and got straight home. Not to put them in a balance but my friendship with him has always been stronger than the one with Dancer, so of course I would understand his decision immediately. I was glad that our friendship wasn’t weakened by time and distance.
I arrived home safely. I took a long shower, made myself a heavy supper… the irony, I know, ate it, washed the dishes and finally I was in my bedroom. I turned on my PC and tried to play something. No inspiration to play came to me. It was just 6:37 pm and I still have so much time left before sleep time.
My phone rang, I received a private message.
-Dancer: I am sorry for ruining your welcoming party. My grip with Sunset was not excuse for what I did back there. Let’s hang out the three of us soon like old times.
Oh, Dancer, I am glad that you are still self-conscious when you screw up.
-Dancer: And by the way, Pinkie is a good girl, so don’t label her as someone annoying. If someone is obnoxious between the two, no contest, it is you. Have a good evening, (kisses)
Give me back my praise, bitch.
Reflecting on the events transpired in Canterlot High School, Pinkie Pie stalking, Twilight gluing with me at every turn, Santa Calculus happy attitude, Cranky´s boring class, Flash sudden feelings for Sparkle, and Sunset and Dancer quarrel, there was only one word that could describe my first day.
Tiring.