//------------------------------// // 179. The Music Stand - Part 3 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Realizing the situation called for bold, decisive action, Pinkie and Cheese started following Cranky through his wild escapades with one goal on their minds: Sabotage. It went as well as to be expected. At an archery lesson Cranky was taking, Pinkie had Cheese go shoot the breeze with Cranky while the pink menace snuck out, disguised as a haystack, to move the target out of range. Unfortunately, a colt who was also taking the lesson got a little shaky with his aim. It drew a lot of attention to see a haystack jump ten feet into the air, yowling, “MY BUTTT!!!!” Later on, Cranky decided to indulge himself by joining an amateur safari into a designated safe zone in the Everfree Forest, for a scavenger hunt. Pinkie’s idea was for her and Cheese to scare Cranky off with Timber wolf costumes. The plan was scrapped when Pinkie got enthralled by the tour whilst Cheese accidentally fell into a patch of poison joke. It was a good thing Zecora’s hut was nearby after the poison joke made Cheese’s body all stringy as though he really had no bones for a rubber chicken dance. The finally ridiculous act of the day however was when Cranky tried some parkour lessons o’er the Ponyville rooftops. Pinkie, being the hyper bouncy mare she was, challenged the donkey to a race while an unenthusiastic Cheese, at Pinkie’s early direction, set up dozens of mattresses and other such objects to be used for soft landings. The result unfortunately was Pinkie repeatedly missing the donkey with her tactless dives, making her fall from the rooftops, and she only stopped when she missed a mattress and landed on Cheese instead. “Any more bright ideas, cotton candy for brains…?” grumped Cheese as he held an icepack to his head as he and Pinkie sat at a booth in Sugarcube Corner. He was just glad his poofy brown mane cushioned Pinkie’s fall onto him somewhat. “Lemme think,” Pinkie said whilst putting on her thinking cap (again), missing both the sarcasm and the facehooving. “Hmm…” - The lightbulb on the cap lit up, as well as her face - “I’ve got it!” She giggled while smacking her hoof to her forehead, “Hel-lo, Pinkie! It’s so obvious!” “Pinks, maybe we shouldn’t interfere with Cranky and Matilda anymore,” Cheese didn’t like the direction this was going. “I mean, so far, all we’ve done is just make things worse!” “Trust me, Cheesie,” Pinkie scoffed at Cheese’s doubts, “there’s no way this can’t fail!” Seeing that Pinkie would not be deterred, Cheese sighed and thought, Faust help us… Later that evening, Pinkie and the Cakes were putting the finishing touches on the table reserved for the unknowing patrons. “Thanks again for letting me keep the bakery open after hours for this dinner, Mr. & Mrs. Cake!” “Not a problem, Pinkie,” Carrot Cake smiled, his wife, adding, “We just think it’s so sweet of you to do something this nice for Cranky and Matilda, dearie.” “I can already picture it,” Pinkie swooned as she thought of what could be the only outcome of this plan. “First Cranky, then Matilda arrives to a romantic dinner, the lights and music setting just the right mood, they pause as they take in this moment, and remember just how important they are to each other! Eeeh...!!” Pinkie felt like a giddy filly, when Carrot Cake asked, “So… when are they getting here?” “Oh! Well, I invited Cranky here to taste a new recipe I’d prepared,” Pinkie explained, “and Cheesie went to get Matilda! Now if you’ll excuse me…!” Pinkie zipped into the bakery’s little filly’s room and the back out, revealing she’d quick-changed into a tacky waiter’s outfit, complete with a fake moustache. “...I gotta make sure everything’s perfect!” *Knock-knock-knock* “I’LL GEDDIT!” Pinkie yelled as she bounced over to the door and opened it revealing Cranky, his hair combed, and wearing a green bow tie. “Good evening, monsieur, and welcome!” Cranky gave Pinkie a confused look, thinking, What’s with the bad Prench accent? “Your table is zis way, monsieur,” Pinkie led Cranky to the table, which was set for two, had candlelight, a bottle of chilled nectar set in a container with ice, and menus. “Uh, isn’t this a little much for tasting a new recipe?” Cranky had no idea why the table was set for two. “Oh, but it is so much more zhan a mere tasting,” Pinkie said dramatically, “and don’t worry, you won’t be dining alone tonight.” “Whattya mean by that?” Cranky asked and he got his answer when the door of the bakery opened and in walked, “Matilda?!” Matilda had been cajoled by Cheese Sandwich into coming to Sugarcube Corner, but had insisted she make herself look nice, and she did. She wore simple make-up to accentuate her natural beauty, her hair back in a nice braid, her favorite earrings and necklace, and a pretty scarf wrapped snugly around her shoulders. The moment their eyes met however was so confusingly awkward they didn’t know how to react or what to say. Excitably unaware of the depth of their stunned silence, Pinkie went over to Matilda, “Zis way to your chair, mon cherry!” Hesitantly, Matilda took her seat across the table from Cranky, Pinkie asking, “What would ze jack and jenny like to drink?” “Uh, cider’s fine,” Cranky replied. “Ice water,” muttered Matilda. “Right away, and I shall leave you to peruse ze menus,” Pinkie bowed while also signaling Cheese to follow her into the kitchen. Cranky and Matilda felt like teenagers on a first date, it was that awkward! Neither wanted to raise a fuss but both wanted to defend their positions in this relationship. Clearing her throat, Matilda said, “Let’s… just order and we’ll talk during dinner.” “Fine by me,“ Cranky shrugged as they both picked up their menus and started to browse. “Hmm, this dish looks good,” Matilda commented, “although it says it’s best when it and this garnish are served together!” The emphasis was not lost on Cranky who replied with a similar tone, “Well looky here, this soup looks good enough by itself, without any unnecessary seasonings…” “Huh, well maybe it would taste better if it and something special added were matched together,” Matilda said challengingly. “Unless whatever's added turns out to be sour!” Cranky snapped. “Alright, that is it!” Matilda threw her menu aside, Cranky huffing as he smacked his own onto the tabletop. “I have had just about enough of this foalish prancing about of yours, acting out, and ignoring me!” “Well excuse me for having another chance to live my life!” Cranky retorted. “Besides, I invited you to do all these things with me!” “I don’t need to hang-glide, or scavenger-hunt or some other manic extreme sport to enjoy time with someone I care very much about!” Matilda argued. “This, Doodle! This is supposed to be our second chance, the one where we make up for all that lost time and this time grow old together!” “Well maybe you should’a thought of that when you left me a note somewhere I couldn’t find it!” Cranky ranted. “The note was there! It was taped to the door to my hotel room!” Matilda swore. “Leaving a note with the hotel staff would have been a more certain method of making sure I actually got it!” Cranky debated. “Then maybe I wouldn’t have wasted decades of my life searching all over Equestria for you!” Cheese flinched at the exchange of words as he peered around the corner, Pinkie having asked him to keep an eye on the two donkeys. Fearing the direction this was going, he hesitantly appeared and said, “Um, Cranky, Matilda? I know it’s kind of-” “STAY OUT OF THIS!” both donkeys snapped at him, Cheese yelping as he hid behind the store counter while they continued to scream and rave and rant. “Wasted your life, huh?” Matilda asked rhetorically, tears welling up in her eyes. “Well then, Doodle, I- If that’s how you really feel, I don’t even know why we’re together!” “My thoughts exactly!” Cranky sighed with a huff as he looked away. Matilda refused to cry. At least not in front of this inconsiderate jackass. Though he looked exactly as he did when they met all those years ago, she didn’t recognize the Doodle within. With the woeful misery of a fallen leaf, Matilda departed. Cheese felt just awful, and he watched as Cranky stood up, looking down but angry as he snorted and left, slamming the door to the bakery behind him. “Your drinks, madame and messi-” Pinkie announced, as she came with a serving plate bearing the drinks balanced on top of her cotton candy-like mane, but GASPED to see a lack of donkeys in the bakery. “Cheesie! Where’re Cranky and Matilda?” “Pinkie, they…” Cheese didn’t know how to break the news without breaking Pinkie’s heart. “Went to the little colt and filly rooms? To some prior appointments?” - She gasped again - “Did they make up and go home for a romantic evening of their own?!” The giddy, hopeful smile Pinkie had quickly eased a little in confusion when she saw the sad look on Cheese’s face. The next morning at Pepper Pony’s, Cheese worried as he worked. It was not easy breaking the bad news to Pinkie, and seeing her lively poofy pink mane deflated and fall into an oddly straight yet depressive style, the look on her face, and seeing her walk sadly up to her bedroom. Cheese had wanted to check on Pinkie, to make sure she was okay, but Mr. & Mrs. Cake had insisted they let Pinkie sleep on it and hopefully she’d be a little better in the morning. Cheese got up bright and early to go check on Pinkie before his shift started. He’d found the Cakes working, who’d explained Pinkie was feeling terrible and had requested to be left alone. Cheese had went up to Pinkie’s room but her door was locked. He’d tried saying Pinkie’s heart had been in the right place, that she’d had good intentions, but silence was his answer. Giving up, he promised to come see her again during his break, and he’d bring pizza. The morning customers usually came in for drinks or the cinnamon sticks with icing dip Auntie Spice had on her menu as a dessert item, and as he sealed up the paper bag, he hooved it over to Rivet, the forestallion of the Ponyville Construction crew, and said, “Here ya go, Riv! Two orders of Cinna-stix with icing dip, and a large Raincloud Mist!” “Thanks, Cheese, have a good one!” Rivet waved as he took his order and stepped out of the parlor. Cheese waved after Rivet, pulling a small smile, but it quickly fell away into a sad frown. Sighing, he leaned against the counter, propping his chin up with his forehooves, pondering what to do, how to lift Pinkie’s spirits, and perhaps find some way to save Cranky and Matilda’s relationship. “Bit for your thoughts, hon?” Cheese startled a moment when he looked and saw Auntie Spice, in the kitchen through the serving window, giving him a smirk and raised eyebrow, as though she’d caught him in the act of mischief. “Uh, just, um…” Cheese wasn’t sure what to say, given this was his boy and he was supposed to be working. Chili Spice just maintained her raised eyebrow before shrugging as she came out from the kitchen, grabbed a sign next to the door and hung it up, it reading ‘On break’. Cheese was about to ask what she was doing, when she gestured him to join her at a booth table. Sitting, Cheese was unsure of what his boss wanted as she leaned back, sighing in relaxation, and then abruptly said, “Spit it out, what’s eatin’ ya?” “Huh?” Cheese looked at her with a baffled look. “You obviously have some kind of trouble on your mind,” Chili Spice stated, “talk to me.” “...Well, I’m just not sure if it’s my place, Mrs. Spice,” Cheese hesitated. “It’s about Pinkie, and Cranky and Matilda.” “Ah,” Chili said in dawning realization, “those two.” “You know them?” Cheese asked, a little surprised. “I don’t actually know them,” Chili clarified as she sat up and put her hooves together a she reminisced. “Matilda’s eaten here before, and so did Cranky once he settled in Ponyville. But I never got to know them on a more personal level, as they were just customers. But they were known by my mother.” “So your mom knew them,” Cheese corrected himself. “Exactly,” Chili nodded. “Years ago, even before I was born. My mother was one of the ponies serving drinks and hors d'oeuvres at the Grand Galloping Gala where Cranky and Matilda met and fell in love. “Heh, food service has kinda been the family business. Anyway, my mother served those two lovestruck donkeys a nice nectar they liked so much they asked if they could purchase a whole bottle. She got it for them and they gave her quite the generous tip! She was so grateful, she got them a photographer to immortalize the moments of that night they met and shared. “Then I came along, and my mother taught me all she knew about cooking, and I found my passion in serving pizza and such. One day, when I was in junior high, I met such a polite and handsome young stud. He was popular, had a lot of fillies crushing on him, I didn’t think I had a chance… But then my mother found out I was smitten and told me about how she helped a new couple make the night they met the most magical of their lives.” Cheese listened with rapt attention, as this was the most personal talk Mrs. Chili Spice had ever shared with him. Ever since they met, and he started working for her, she’d always been a firm but fair boss, and she preferred to focus rather than dilly-dally. "Oh Stuff Crust, he had such a big heart, that stallion,” Chili sighed nostalgically before laughing, “ and an even bigger appetite that he was well-named, that pudgy barrel of his! But it just made him more adorable in my eyes. He was always helping other ponies out and acting like a mentor to the younger fillies and colts. I was drawn to him immediately, but I was so nervous I just didn't know how to approach him. Then my mother she told me of the young donkey couple that had met at that gala years ago and the love they shared. She encouraged me to approach Stuff and ask him out. I was so paralyzed with fear, but I forced myself to ask him, and he just looked at me with a warm smile and said yes." Cheese could see the love in her expression as happy memories of the past crossed her eyes. "We were sweethearts all through high school. My mother used to compare us to Cranky and Matilda all the time. Stuff Crust was always pretty quiet and looking for ways to spend time with me in peace, while I was always the fun loud one who had lots of friends. But whenever he wanted to spend some time with me, he was the only thing that mattered. It was like the whole world disappeared leaving only the two of us. My mother said it was exactly like Cranky and Matilda. Heh, sometimes I wonder how close we really were to them with how often she mentioned them." Cheese nodded, sensing that the conversation was starting to stray a little, but it was clearly important to Chili, so he let her talk. "Oh, my time with Stuff Crust was like a most wonderful dream I never wanted to wake up from. You know the day we graduated, he proposed to me! We were both still young, but we knew the love we had for each other would never end, and everypony else could see it too. My mother and father were extremely supportive of the engagement, and so were his parents." She gave a romantic sigh as she continued to picture her husband and the love and life they had shared. "The time we spent together was magical. A couple years into our marriage, we started trying to get pregnant. We loved each other so much we were prepared to take that step and raise a foal together." Cheese noticed her demeanor start change at the mention of the foal. The once blissful smile had started to change into a sad frown and her eyes grew a little wet. "However after months of trying and no success, we went to a doctor to see if something was wrong and... we found that Stuff was sterile and unable to sire a foal. It hit us pretty hard, him especially... but our love held strong and we decided to try looking into adoption." She paused here as a much darker memory crossed her mind. Cheese was about to tell her she didn't need to continue when she resumed speaking, "We went to Canterlot to look into some adoption programs, but before we even got the chance, Stuff... suffered an accident and... passed away." Before she could say anything more on the topic and turn her wet eyes into full blown tears, she felt a warm pair of hooves encircle her as Cheese pulled her into a hug. Chili let her frown dissolve into a small smile as she felt the strong friendship and care coming from the younger stallion. After a few moments, Cheese pulled away to give her a smile, and she replied in kind. "Thank you, Cheese, you're a very sweet stallion. Anyway, I think I strayed from my point a bit. As I was initially saying, my mother told me of Cranky and Matilda when I was young, and she always told me of the thing that truly brought them together. They had been making eyes at each other all night of the gala, but neither had been brave enough to break the ice, until finally, the music started. The most beautiful song started to play and it gave Cranky the courage to ask her to dance, and the moment they stepped onto that dance floor they just knew they were meant to be together." The older mare placed a hoof onto Cheese's shoulder and gave him a tired smile, full of wisdom and care. "In life there are many things that bring us together. A gentle smile, a friendly gesture or even a funny laugh. For Cranky and Matilda, it was the sound of beautiful music. Never underestimate the power of song, Cheese, it can do wonderful things." Her words struck a chord with Cheese, and suddenly the answer to the Cranky and Matilda problem became clear. He gave a laugh of joy and pulled Chili Spice back into another, much more intense hug, spinning her in a circle. "Auntie Spice, you’re a genius! I know what I need to do now! Thank you so much!" Then with a burst of speed that would’ve made Rainbow Dash proud the stallion whizzed out of the pizzeria, leaving the mare to give a gentle giggle. "Oh he is a cheerful young thing… a lot like Stuff was." She started to walk back to the kitchens to start getting things ready for the dinner rush when she heard a noise behind her and felt herself embraced in another hug from behind. "I'm so sorry about Stuff Crust, but I can tell he loved you even to the end. If you ever need somepony to talk to, I'm always here." Auntie Spice felt her throat seize up in gratitude and care. So instead of words, she simply turned around and returned Cheese's hug. She was glad she had a friend like him. Watching him gallop off again, she thought to herself, Stuff, if we’d had a foal… I’d have wanted him to be just like Cheese. The night came and went and the new day’s sun passed through the sky until only the warm orange light of sunset remained. Pinkie however had barely noticed a change at all. After her failure to help Cranky and Matilda, the depressed pink pony had stayed within Sugarcube Corner. She spent the night alone in her room and the rest of the day working on autopilot and barely noticing anything around her. Her thoughts were just so focused on what would happen to her friends. Cranky and Matilda must be so sad right now, and it's all my fault. My Element is Laughter, but instead of bringing joy, all I brought was more pain. I'm the worst friend ever. "Pinkie dear, you have a visitor here to see you." Mrs. Cake's voice cut through the negative thoughts crossing her mind. She looked up from the kitchen bench she had been staring at while she prepared a new batch of muffins to see Cheese Sandwich waiting for her with a smile on his face. Pinkie wasn't really feeling very smiley right now, but the big old grin plastered across Cheese' face did cheer her up a little. Nothing made her happier than seeing ponies smile. "Hi Cheesy, what's up? If you want some help setting up a party, I'm... really not feeling party-riffic enough to help right now." The orange party pony just zoomed forward and wrapped an arm around her in a side hug. "Oh, it isn't any help setting up I need you for right now, Pinkie-Winkie! Instead, I have something much more fun planned. I think I found a way to make you and Cranky and Matilda all smiley-wiley again!" The pink pony hesitated a little. After all the failed attempts yesterday, she wasn't sure she could take another failure right now. Still, Cheese seemed really excited, and she hated feeling all down in the dumps like this. If Cheesy thought he could make her and Cranky and Matilda smile again, then she felt in her heart that he'd succeed. "Okay, Cheesy, let's see your plan." The curly brown maned stallion smiled a ear-to-ear grin on his face. "You'll see, Pinkie, this will totally work. Now let’s get all dressed up and then we’re off to the town square!!” Pinkie blinked her eyes as she gazed over the transformed town square. What was usually a bustling scene filled with ponies packing up their stalls from a busy day of sales, had now been turned into something spectacular. Lantern lights had been strung up between the buildings, giving off a beautiful glow. A few tables of refreshments had been set up with punch and hors d'oeuvres for a fancy party. A small stage had been set up towards the back of the square with Octavia and several orchestral musicians seated and ready with their instruments. Finally, ponies were gathered all over the square dressed up fancy, wearing beautiful ballroom dresses and smashing suits, including the rest of the Harmonic Twelve. The entire square had been set up all fancy like, like at the Grand Galloping Gala. While it certainly looked spectacular, Pinkie was unsure how this particular type of party was going to help things. Before she could voice her thoughts, she heard some arguing towards the centre of the square in front of the town fountain, where she spotted Cranky and Matilda, both dressed up and looking lovely, once again arguing with each other. Pinkie could not fathom how Cheese could have convinced those two to show up, much less in each other’s company. While they were both mindful of all the ponies around them, the argument was slowly starting to get heated. "I don't know why you keep arguing with me! I just want to enjoy my life now that my youth has been returned! I don't understand why this is such an issue for you!" "I don't understand why you keep prioritizing your youthful happiness over our love! We have a lifetime to spend together, but all you seem to care about is getting thrills and leaving me home alone!" Before the argument could escalate any further, or one of the two could storm off, a loud screeching drone echoed over the square, irritating everypony. As silence settled, everypony looked to the stage to see that Cheese Sandwich was now upon it, wearing that same suit he’d had one back at the Goof Off when he’d been about to conduct a seal playing a horn until Pinkie forfeited. Pinkie looked around her quickly, but indeed her party pony friend had managed to slip past her acute pinkie senses and appear on the stage. She was certainly impressed. "Hello there, everypony. Thank you all for coming to Ponyville's first Grand Galloping Gala Redo! The Gala has been well known to everypony for a while now, and many magical events have happened there, including finding true love," Cheese paused in his speech to make sure he had Cranky and Matilda's attention. The two donkey's were definitely listening, and a slight nostalgia had seemed to fall over them as they recognized the Gala scene around them. "Well tonight, I'm going to do something special, for two of Ponyville's most well known residents. Cranky, Matilda, it took a while, and a long talk with Princess Celestia to make sure I had everything right, but tonight, is going to be something special." At his signal, Octavia signaled to the rest of her fellow musicians, and they began to play. There you see her Sitting there across the way She don’t got a lot to say But there’s something about her And you don’t know why But you’re dying to try You wanna kiss the girl As Cheese Sandwich sung into the microphone, the couples scattered around the square all smiled and came together to dance. Blueblood held Rarity close, staring into her dazzling blue eyes while she swooned at how handsome her prince looked. Rainbow shyly tucked her head underneath Soarin's chin as he gently twirled her around. Fluttershy fidgeted her wings happily as Big Mac led her around the square. Thunderlane blushed heavily as he nervously worked up the courage to ask Applejack to dance, and her face was just as red as she accepted with a warm smile. Twilight was nervous trying to make sure she didn't trip up as Midnight just chuckled lightly and gently guided her through the steps. But Pinkie's focus was on a different couple. As the words echoed around the square, Cranky and Matilda stared at each other as memories of the song drifted through their heads. Yes, you want her Look at her, you know you do It’s possible she wants you, too There is one way to ask her It don’t take a word Not a single word Go on and kiss the girl The upset and angry expressions melted away as memories of warmth and love passed through them. Slowly, Cranky and Matilda drifted closer together while Cheese looked to the Flower Trio, with a dashing smirk, “Sing with me now.” Sha-la-la-la-la-la My, oh, my Look at the boy too shy He ain’t gonna kiss the girl Sha-la-la-la-la-la Ain’t that sad Ain’t it shame, too bad You gonna miss the girl Their hooves linked as Cranky held Matilda gently, his eyes never leaving hers as the two started to shuffle about. Now’s your moment Floating in a blue lagoon Boy, you better do it soon No time will be better She don’t say a word And she won’t say a word Until you kiss the girl Slowly all the tension, all the unrest, everything that had been keeping them apart just drained away until nothing remained in their hearts but their love for each other. Sha-la-la-la-la-la Don’t be scared You got the mood prepared Go on and kiss the girl Sha-la-la-la-la-la Don’t stop now Don’t try to hide it how You wanna kiss the girl Sha-la-la-la-la-la Float along Listen to the song The song say kiss the girl Sha-la-la-la-la-la Music play Do what the music say You wanna kiss the girl "Matilda, I'm so sorry." "I'm sorry too… Doodle." Cranky felt his heart swell with surprising joy to hear her call him ‘Doodle’, for after all - Nopony but Matilda called him Doodle. "I love you, Matilda, with all my heart." "And I love you, more than you will ever know." You’ve got to kiss the girl Why don’t you kiss the girl You gotta kiss the girl Go on and kiss the girl... As the song came to an end, all barriers vanished, and Cranky pulled Matilda into a soft yet passionate kiss, holding her so close that they could feel the fluttering of each other's hearts. Ponies around them all began to cheer and clap, but none more strongly than Pinkie Pie. Tears formed in the pink mare's eyes as she saw the love between them, and knew that everything between these two would be alright. She looked to Cheese, who wore a satisfied smile, and went over to him, asking, “How’d you do all this?” “Well, I thought, since all our other tries didn’t work out,” Cheese explained, “that helping Cranky and Matilda remember the night they fell in love could work! So I asked Twilight to send a letter for me to Princess Celestia, asking her some stuff, like all she knew about the Gala Cranky and Matilda met at, and she was glad to give me all the stuff I wanted to know and more! “So I went to the Mayor and with her blessing threw this schmancy-shindig together, to recreate that night! To remind Cranky and Matilda of the magic they felt that night they met at the gala!” “Cheesy, you’re a genius!” Pinkie threw her arms around Cheese Sandwich, the both of them laughing, when they heard Cranky. “Excuse me! Could I have your attention please?” All eyes fell upon Cranky as he looked meaningfully at Matilda, “Oh Matilda… This feels like history is truly repeating itself, because tonight feels exactly as magical as it did that night all those years ago we met at the gala. A simple mistake kept us apart a long time but then we found each other and got another chance very few get in their lives! “But instead of really appreciating that chance and honoring the ponies who gave it to us, I squandered it… I was so thrilled at my second chance at life that I all but forgot whom I wanted to share it with. Matilda, you deserve someone who loves you and strives to make you happy, and… I’m not that donkey right now, but if you’ll give me another chance I Pinkie Swear, for Faust’s sakes, to be exactly the jack who dedicates himself to making you happy as much as the jack who searched all over Equestria for you.” There were some tears and awes and silent gasps as Cranky got down, took Matilda’s hoof n his own, and asked, “Matilda… will you marry me?” Matilda looked unsure, happy, confused, and was at a loss, the silence rising the tension as the ponies around them all held their breaths, leaning in out of suspense, Pinkie leaning a little too much that she almost fell off the stage, Cheese thankfully grabbing her before she fell off and onto her face. Matilda was just unsure. A part of her was still angry with her Doodle, afraid he’d go right back to messing around like a youthful jackass, but there was a part of her that so very much wanted to say yes. She too had felt that same magic again from all those years ago, felt that same spark reignite, and in the eyes of her Doodle, she saw an honest wish to make things right, a promise, and wavering hope. A tear of joy welled up in her eye, Matilda chuckling lightly, as she said, “Yes!” Cranky smiled almost as brightly as he had after his reunion with Matilda when she’d kissed him, stood up, and pulled his Matilda in for another soft yet passionate kiss, and everypony around them cheered! Pinkie got as teary as the time she’d put the Cake Twins down for a nap and heard them call her name in their sleep when she felt an arm around her shoulders, and looked to see Cheese smiling warmly at her. “Thanks, Cheese… for doing all this!” “Well, Pinkie, I’m glad things turned out right in the end,” Cheese replied, “and y’know what? This whole thing has taught me something.” “What’s that?” Pinkie asked, Cheese holding up his hoof to mean ‘one moment’. He tapped the microphone, sending a beat of feedback around the square and saying, “Excuse me, everypony? Could I have a moment of your time?” All eyes turned to the stage, Pinkie stepping back as she and they all looked upon Cheese in curiosity. “First off, I want to congratulate Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda on their engagement,” Cheese started off, causing a round of stomps and cheers for the jack and jenny before Cheese resumed. “See, when I was a colt, I was in a bad place, but then I saw something that changed my life forever! It was a party thrown by Pinkie! Without saying anything, realizing it, or even meeting me at the time, Pinkie taught me that happiness can be found in even the simplest of things, like the sound of a breeze blowing through the trees, the singing of birds in springtime, the babble of a brook, and especially the sound of laughter! “When you think about these things, on their own they can be special in their own way, but when you bring them together, they can form a whole new melody, just like all of us can come together and make something equally as wonderful! It's great to laugh, and it’s just as awesome as to let the rhythm of your heart take you away into a musical experience that touches all and brings all together in harmony!” Cranky and Matilda shared a loving look and nuzzle as Cheese wrapped it up. “So Cranky? Matilda? Whatever comes your way, I’m sure that as long as you’re together, you can make the future yours, and always remember how a little bit of Music helped you both take that first step!” Everypony cheered yet again, as Cheese’s friends all looked on proudly, when all of a sudden Cheese felt a tingling on his forehead and shuddered, going, “Wh-wh-wh-who-o-o-o-oa….!!!” Midnight and Blueblood felt a similar tingling at the base of their horns while Big Mac felt a more subtle shudder in his legs and hooves, and the three of them suddenly had the same suspicion when everypony gasped to see a pillar of orange light shimmering green arise from Pepper Pony’s! The pillar quickly dimmed to a tiny sparkle and everypony watched as it zoomed over towards Cheese and he recognized it as his Element Jewel! “Whoo! Don’t see this everyday!” Cheese laughed as he reached out, and the moment his hoof touched the jewel did it flare a blinding orange and yellow and green! Cheese felt himself become clad in armor, around his chest and barrel, on his fetlocks, and felt a helmet over his head, and just like that it was over as the light dimmed and everypony gasped! Cheese was adorned in his own Harmonic Armor, colored yellow with orange and green accents, the emblem on his chest reflecting his grilled cheese/accordion cutie-mark, and his helmet sported a plume matching the color of his curly brown mane. The Elemental Jewel was still in Cheese’s hoof, but now it carried a magic all its own, a magic just for him! “Cheesy…?” Cheese looked to Pinkie, who’s look of awe turned into a happy smile, and he laughed as he removed his helmet and happily raised up his jewel, saying, “Say hello, everypony… to the Element of Music!!!” The gala party carried on while Cheese excused himself to take care of something. Accompanied by his friends to the Tree of Harmony, they watched as Cheese added the Element of Music to the mysterious chest, and once it settled into its slot it glowed intensely for a brief moment before dulling and showing the jewel had changed into two gem pieces resembling the halved bread of Cheese's cutie-mark while a "splash" of cheesy yellow-orange bridged them on the panel they were set within, perfectly mirroring Cheese Sandwich's cutie-mark. “Well done, Cheese,” Midnight congratulated his friend, “and now there’s only two of the new elements left.” “Still us, eh, Thunder?” Soarin elbowed Thunderlane who chuckled. “I bet I find mine before you!” Thunderlane elbow him back. “I still wonder what these new Elements are for,” Twilight spoke up, “what their existences mean!” “Take it from me, Twily,” Midnight gave his mare an assuring nuzzle, “in the end, everything will be alright.” “And why worry when there’s still a party going on back in town?!” Rainbow got pumped. “And there’s one more song I wanna sing, but…” brought up Cheese. He looked to Pinkie, “I think for this one I might need a little help.” Pinkie smiled with a gleeful bounce, as she said, “Let’s GO!” Speakers were pumping, spotlights flashing, and the polite and sophisticated vibe that had covered the area was now gone to be replaced by loud cheering fun. The group of friends were all spread throughout the towns ponies, enjoying the party and celebrating in the love of Cranky and Matilda's engagement. All except two. The band, now no longer playing orchestra music, let loose a fun beat as the two party ponies sang their joy. YAHOO!!! Now there's a party going on right here A celebration that will last throughout the years Ponies cheered and danced, laughing and having a great time as the music filled the air. So bring your good times and your laughter too We're gonna celebrate your party with you Twilight waved her limbs about spastically in her attempt at dancing to the song. The crowd gave her a slightly wider birth, but Midnight just laughed and jumped around with her, happy to see his special somepony enjoying herself. Celebration...! We're gonna celebrate and have a good time yeah! Fluttershy's shyness seem to flare up a little as Big Mac held her over his head and spun her around, but she made no attempt to stop him, and her husband could easily see the demure little smile on her face as he did so. Celebration...! We're gonna celebrate and have a good time! Rarity and Blueblood had both put aside decorum and were spinning about like mad ponies, laughing joyfully and not caring at all what anypony thought of their mad antics. It's time to come together It's up to you, what's your pleasure Rainbow and Soarin were airborne like several other pegasi and were spinning around each other with glee, beaming smiles on their faces and love in their hearts. Everypony `round the world COME ON! Applejack kicked up her hooves and swung Thunderlane about like she was in a hoedown. While clearly unused to being tossed around so easily, the blush on Thunderlane's face showed he didn't mind too much. Celebrate good times COME ON! It's a celebration! Auntie Spice may have been older than the group of friends, but she was by no means senile, which she proved strongly as she twirled about from partner to partner, laughing happily and being swept up in the excitement. Yahoo! It's a celebration! But the two individuals tearing up the dance floor the hardest were Cranky and Matilda, as they used their youthful bodies to teach the young generation so real dancing talent. Celebrate good times COME ON! Pinkie and Cheese shouted out the final verse flailed their front hooves in the air as all of Ponyville cheered. Everything was fun with a little music.