The pegasi pair walked their way passed through town in relative silence. The banter between the two had began to mull down as Rainbow Dash led Soarin to the next location. Soarin had no real actual idea of what to expect,but according to Dash, it was something “awesome”. If she said it would be good, then it must be, but then again, she said that about everything so he didn’t have much to go on. All he hoped for though was something simply fun and easy.
It took alittle longer than Soarin figured it would, Rainbow Dash had led him straight through the outskirts of town and towards what Soarin recognized as a farm.
“So...why does it have to be all the way out here? Why not in town?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged as she led him to the barn door. “ Pinkie Pie thought she needed more room for the party.”
“More room?” Soarin groaned to himself. “Please don’t tell me it’s a huge number of ponies. You know I hate crowds.”
“Oh come on, it’s not that many ponies. I’ve had much bigger crowds before.” She spoke with a hint of smug pride.
“Yeah, well you soak up attention like a freaking flower.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes. “ Yeah yeah yeah, now quit stalling and get in their, you sissy.”
Soarin sighed to himself and pushed his way through the door.
“SURPRISE!!!” All shout from countless voices rang out all at once.
“GAh!” Soarin jumped in his hooves, not expecting that much of a welcome. With the light shining through the barn windows, Soarin saw that just how many ponies there were. 50...60...70… way too many for him to be comfortable.
He weakly lifted his hoof and waved with a sheepish grin. “Uhh, hey everypony.”
Without warning, a pink pony with a very bushy mane appeared right in front of him. Before he could even say a word, he was bombarded without comments and questions.
“Oh my Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh my Gosh! I can’t believe I can finally throw a party for a Wonderbolt! Wait, doesn’t mean I also get to throw you a “retiring from the wonderbolts” party too? Cause if I do then that means i also get-” Pinkie’s trail of speech was interrupted as Soarin raised his hoof to stop her.
“Just one party is enough miss…” Soarin let that sentence hang, intending to get the ponies name as he extended his hoof in greeting.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Pinkie Pie’s the name! And your Soarin of the wonderbolts! Well, former wonderbolts, but Rainbow Dash talks about you all the time!”
“Does she now?” Soarin faked a smile on his face as he shook pinkie's hoof. Internally, he prayed that she hadn’t let it slip yet about the reality of his situation. He stole a glance Dash’s way, looking for confirmation. Thankfully, she got the hint and responded with a wink, setting his mind at ease.
“Well don’t just stand around, come meet everypony!” Pinkie gave him no chance to object as she sent him straight into the mob of ponies,all eager happy faces to greet him. “Now let's get this party started!”
After what seemed like an eternity of meet pony, shake hooves, repeat, Soarin finally found himself free to wander and minger with various members of the crowd. Despite his early jitters about being the possible center of attention, it ended up not being nearly as bad as he had thought. A few questions for him came up here and there, but overall they gave his space. He was in the middle of speaking with the new princess Twilight about a potential flying regime when he began to feel himself get hungry.
Excusing himself for a moment, Soarin found himself ducking and weaving around various ponies talking and partying to their hearts content.He spotted himself a small table, filled with an entree of various dishes. Cupcakes, Chocolate, Muffins, Apples, and…
Pie! A few pies made up the center, by the smell, Soarin figured them to be apple. Making his way over, Soarin wasted no time in picking one of the pies up and practically shoved his entire muzzle straight in. A few ponies looked his way, but he didn’t care. The pie was...just so good! Not to mention strangely familiar.
“Boy howdy partner, you sure know a good old fashioned pie when you see one eh?” The southern accented of a mare rang out. Soarin, finish the last bits of the pie, looked up to see an orange coated mare with a yellow mane and a brown stetson in front of him. He also found himself taking in account her three apple cutie mark, green eyes and welcoming smile and tone of voice.
It was a few awkward moments before Soarin realized he had been staring at her. He shook himself out of it before nodding to the mare. “I take it you're the cook?”
“Me? Nah, that’d be my Granny smith’s cooking. No pony could have done it better. Anyway the name’s Applejack, Mr. Soarin.” She extended her hoof to the Pegasus.
Soarin shot his hoof out to meet hers, shaking enthusiastically. “Good to meet you Applejack.” Strangely enough, that name began to ring a bell as she became more familiar to him. “Have we, by any chance, met before?”
“Actually, we did. A few years ago at the Gala. Ya’ll came up to my booth and bought yerself one of my pies.”
Soarin pondered for a moment. He had been to a few galas before. Now that he thought about it momentarily, it began to come back to him. He remembered this mare and how he bought himself a pie from her. That actually ended being the most fun he ever had when going to the Gala.”Yeah, I do remember that time now. For once the Gala was actually fun to be at!”
“THat’s what ah heard.” Applejack let out a soft chuckle before a deadpanned looked crept its way out. “Though ‘cept you, Ah didn’t make nothin off that little glorified get together. Too “Country” they all said.”
“Are you kidding me? Your stuff is awesome!” Soarin briefly heard his stomach let out a small grumble. “Speaking of which, can I have another?”
“Of course! Help yourself, it’s all for you afterall.”
The next few hours were a buzz for Soarin as he mingled with the ponies. Already he was beginning to feel less of a celebrity and more like a new member of the community. Ponies came up, introduced themselves and engaged in small talk, just as they would any pony.
Much of that time he also spent with Applejack. As they talk on, Soarin found himself enjoying his time with her much more he thought he would. Used to high egos and praise directed at him with the sole reason of, in his opinion, getting on his good side, he found Applejack to be down to earth, honest and genuine with her actions and speech.
As the sun began to set, the party died down to a shimmer. Ponies began to pick themselves up and make their way home. Many said last minutes welcomes again to Soarin as well as thanks to Pinkie for the party in general. As the last one out, Soarin in particular wished to speak to her. He found her up on a ladder taking down some of the decorations.
“Hey Pinkie?”
Pinkie turned from her work of taking down some of the decorations to face Soarin. “Hey, what’s up?” She climbed herself down to face the pegasus with a smile.
“I just wanted to thank you for your help. I was afraid that my status,well former status as a wonderbolt would have gotten me some kind of special treatment or something. That wasn’t the case it seemed.”
“No problem! Everypony deserves to have a classic ponyville welcome. Though you still have told us why you left the wonderbolts. Were they being a bunch of meanies to you again?” She tilted her head, curious now about his reasons.
“Oh no, it’s nothing like that! It’s just…” Soarin trailed off. Besides Rainbow Dash, he had told nopony in town about his reasons for leaving or anything about his condition. That little voice in the back of his head kept screaming at him. You have to let them know. You know it would be cruel otherwise. Soarin did his best to push such thoughts aside, but not without effort.Not yet, I can't. For once he might be able to finally be under the paparazzi's radar, but that could all end quickly he lets the truth out so early. Not when he can finally begin to let go of his celebrity status.
“Pinkie tilted her head to the other side in growing confusion.
“It’s personal, let's just leave it there for now.” Looking through the window, Soarin no longer saw the fading orange of the sunset, it was getting dark. “Anyway, I gotta get home now. Thank you again Pinkie, I really enjoyed the party. Heh,” He began to turn and walk towards the door.” Maybe I’ll also have you do my funeral as well.” HE added with a slight chuckle.
“Sure, of course I...would?” Pinkie halted her speech as she heard that in her head. By now Soarin had fully walked out and flew his way home. “His Funeral? What did he mean by that?”
“Oh that?” Rainbow Dash walked up to her. She was one of the last one in the barn, helping Pinkie take down decorations. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll let you know later.” She looked back to the closing door as Soarin made his way home. Her face began to show signs of concern. "I just hope soon."