//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Soarin's Pie // by gcsmith //------------------------------// The day of the stunt show dawned bright. There was not a cloud in the sky; the weather Pegasi were definitely not going to let rain spoil the day for anyone. By six in the morning, Ponyville was unusually active as ponies were arriving from out of town, and those who had stayed in town were waking up in the various hotels or campsites. No one was going to be caught getting up late for this event and those who did have the luxury of sleeping in were woken by all the hustle and bustle. Despite the crowds, there was a relative peace, every pony conducted themselves with a standard far higher than usual. After all, with all the excitment in the air, situations could easily get out of hand. Even a certain mail mare was off at the bakery to have an early breakfast with her daughter, the delivery company having deemed it unsafe for her to do deliveries with so many new ponies about. Ones not used to her accidents anyway. Soarin and Twister were lounging on top of the Stadium, having been deprived of any clouds to sit on, it would have to do. Tired, they were laying down to get some fourty winks before the show, having been woken up early by their captain for last minute practice. It was unnecessary, but Spitfire was never one to take shows, no matter how insignificant, easily. "Yo, mate, how did it go yesterday with that mare?" Twister asked. Soarin didn't seem to hear properly, merly responding with a grunt that could mean "what was that" or "leave me alone". "Yo, dog, I asked how it went yesturday with that mare of yours?" Grumpily, Soarin opened his eyes, a much welcomed rest having been stolen from him, he responded. "Firstly, she isn't mine. Secondly, why are you so interested?" "Well I am your friend, am I not? So, of course I'm interested. Besides, who else am I going to tease about relationships?" Twister said coolly. Soarin chuckled, it was true he was the only one to tease, Spitfire didn't take remarks about her private life very well. "Thats true. Well, since you care so much, it went rather well. I didn't do much beyond getting a pie from her and giving her a ticket to the show." "You gave her a ticket to the show? and what kind of "pie" did you get?" "Yes, I did, she said she couldn't afford one, and I couldn't let the mare I like miss out on my skills." "Wow, 'real modest dude', she's going to love that about you." said Twister. Soarin missed the sarcasm. "Really? Thanks man." Then, catching on quickly, "Hey, that was an insult wasn't it?" "Guess we will never know, Soarin. We. Will. Never. Know. So what kind of ticket you give her?" "Gave her a box one, she should apprieciate it." "You gave her a ticket for the box..." Twister's voice caught in his throat, his fear clearly visible in his eyes. "Dude, that wasn’t wise, not wise at all." "Why's that?" "Um, hello, did you not see her at the Gala?" "Well, of course I saw her, why else do you think I can't stop thinking of her with every waking moment?" "Not what I meant, man, not what I meant. Did you not see how she behaved amongst those high class snobs?" "Hay, yeh, that was some top class partying if you ask me." said Soarin, his eyes glazing over dreamily as he remembered Pinkies exploits at the Gala. At the same time Twister just covered his face with his hoof. "You don't quite seem to get me. How do you think those top class snobs will react if she does something like that today? It will ruin the show." "I'm sure she will behave herself today, Twist, not as if their is any party music to put her in a dancing mood." "You better be right, Soarin, mate." Twister looked up at the crowds beginning to form. "Looks like we better be going, don't want to be caught up here by any overeager fans." He thought back to that Pegasus he had met at the gala, she had been very eager. Sure, she had saved their lives, but that didn't excuse such rowdy behavior. "Yeh, I agree, besides, I'm getting a chill up here." With that, both Pegasi took to the sky and headed towards their dressing rooms, hoping to at least get a rest before the show began. Across town, Pinkie was finishing serving the last batch of early customers in Sugarcube Corner, when her six friends entered the shop. "You all ready to go, Pinkie?" asked Rainbow, a smile on her face. While she still couldn't believe her friend had gotten a free box ticket, she was glad her friend would be able to see the show this time. Pinkie was the one out of them that earnt the least money and they often forgot about it, leaving her behind when special events came to town - unless the Princesses sent them tickets, that is. "Mmmph," was all she replied, her mouth taken up by a large tray of goods she was carrying over to a set of customers. "What was that?" Twilight asked. Pinkie reached the table and put down the tray, carefully, so as to avoid spilling any of the food and drink, before answering. "In a minute, got one last set of customers to serve." With that she appeared behind the counter again in a blink of an eye, Twilight shook her head, she still hadn't understood how Pinkie did that. She started cutting up some pastries while putting on a batch of coffee. Pinkie may have been crazy, but you couldn't find any faults with her efficiency when it came to doing what she loved. With Pinkie's speed of working, it wasn't long before they were walking down towards the stadium. "Um, Pinkie, how did you get the day off?" Asked Fluttershy, her face shrouded by a large sun hat. "I thought you were meant to work today." "Yes, indeedy, however, when they saw I got given an expensive ticket they didn't want me to waste the opportunity." said Pinkie. "They also said it was, and I quote, ‘it's sweet you have a stallion interested in you.’ I have no idea what they meant." Pinkie's apparent lack of awareness of the situation caused Rarity to giggle like a little school girl. "Oh, Darling, don't you fret. I'm sure they only meant it was nice for you to get a ticket. Such a pricey one as well, I can't believe you got given that." "Oh, Rarity, you know my bee facts are the best." Said Pinkie, naively believing she got the ticket for her bee facts. While Fluttershy and Rarity, were left baffled by Pinkie's facts, Twilight and Applejack hung back to talk to Rainbow. "How you holding up, Sugarcube?" asked Applejack. "I know, with all your crazy talk about the Wonderbolts, you can't find it easy to have one of them take such a shine to your friend." "Fine, I'm just fine, Applejack." Said Rainbow sourly, clearly anything but fine. "Aw, come one, ya can tell meh." "Applejack's right Rainbow, you can tell us, after all I’ve read many books on jealously and relationships." Said Twilight. "Twilight! I am not jealous!" she screamed. "No, of course you're not, you're just a feather brain," teased Applejack. This caused Rainbow Dash to get really stroppy and storm ahead, leaving Applejack and Twilight in the dust. "Ah think we just upset the poor mare." "Don't worry, Applejack, she'll calm down." "Ya sure?" "Of course, I'm sure, said so in my book." Said Twilight, causing Applejack to just smile and shake her head. At this rate, it was going to be a long day.