The Pineapple
I hate fedoras.
Well, not really. I guess it depends on who's wearing it. If it's one of those self-righteous dudebros who watch My Little Human: Companionship is Witchcraft, then they get all my hate. If it's a Semi-Aquatic Egg-Laying Mammal of Action, then I'd love it! But, no matter how much I hate those hats, I've always wanted one, and I wondered if it would look well on me. Quite contradictory aren't I? Well, what of it? It's second nature for sentient beings to be contradictory.
....I think....
But, your not here to listen to my love/hate relationship with fedoras, are you? Nope, you're here for a story. Well, don't worry, guy, 'cause I've got a story for you.
When I first heard of the trade meet at Rainbow Falls, I've brushed it off. I never traveled much and never really wanted to. But, then I thought that this may be my chance to get a fedora, so then I thought, why not?
"Hey, Sparky!" My Mother called as I was about to leave.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Can you gets me a pineapple from the place?" She asked. I couldn't help but inwardly chuckle.
"Sure, Mom, I'll try my best!"
"Thanks you. I love ya."
"Love you, too."
Then, I was off. I had taken the train to Rainbow Falls. From the house, or cottage, really, I had taken a nut-looking purse, and four bits. One to get on the train, one to get back.
I, of course, have never seen Rainbow Falls before. My Mom has been there before, but I hadn't. And, let me tell you, it was beautiful. And crowded. There were hundreds of ponies there! Maybe more! I thought it was just some rinky-dink operation were I can get a low-quality type of hat. But, no. It was huge! Hay, even Princess Twilight Sparkle was there!
Surprisingly, I saw a pony with a pineapple almost immediately. She was a pegasus named, Sunny Days. No, I didn't know her beforehoof, she just straight up told me. I honestly thought trading would be hard. Especially, for me, because I'm definitely not the most social of ponies.
There was no way she wanted a nut-purse, was there? Yes, yes there was.
"Wow," She said, here eyes sparkling out of pure happiness and joy. "I've always wanted one of these."
"Uh, Okaaaayyyy," I replied. "Ahem, well, it was nice doing buisness, with, um, you."
Then, I walked off chuckling nervously. What? Who in their sane mind would get that excited over a nut-purse! I don't even if that's even what it is!
Also, some ponies say, Sunny Days still stands there to this day.
Well, I had one out of two items on the the figurative list. Time for a fedora. Finally.
I traveled all over the trading grounds, but I could not find one. Single. Fedora. It was ridiculous!
Until, that is, I came across a mare. Not that that isn't a common occurrence. But, she had what I wanted. She had hair that looked a bit like flames in a braid. Not all too interesting. I mean, I'd seen Twilight Sparkle's hair catch on fire once. The real thing is cooler. She, also, for some strange, strange reason, didn't have a cutie mark. The thought of a full grown pony having no cutie mark was mind-boggling. Especially, in this day and age.
But, she had the hat I wanted to acquire.
Meh, I thought. Buck it.
I started trotting up to her. And, just as I was about to say "Hi," she whipped around, a huge smile on her face. I must admit, that freaked me out
"Jeez," I muttered. "What the hay, mare?"
"Hey!" She squealed.
"Uh, hi?"
"My name's Ember Lockes." She introduced herself, holding out a hoof.
I gave a small smile. Luna-dang it, her smile was infectious, like Pinkie Pie's. I brohoofed her.
"Sparkler."
"It's really nice to meet you, Sparkler."
Heh, you too. Ember, you kinda-"
"Ohmigosh!" She gasped. "My first nickname!" She cheered and hopped in circles around me.
"Uh, Ember?"
"I gotta nickname!"
"Ember."
"I gotta nickname! I gotta nickname!"
"Ember Lockes!"
She stopped in mid-air, then fell muzzle first into the ground. I jumped back in shock.
"Oh Luna! Are you okay?"
She pulled her face off of the ground, looked up at me and smiled. "Yeah, just got super excited. You gave me my first nickname."
"Oh, really?"
"I don' really have friends."
"Well, gosh, sorry." Huh. Would you look at that? She got me to sympathize. Clever....
"S' okay, friend." She said. "Uh, friend?"
Friend? Did I want to be friends with her? She seemed okay, and fun enough. But, then again, I just met her. She could be secretly a serial killer who wants to murder me and Mom, leaving Dinky alive to suffer through the trauma. But, if I say no, she'll be crushed.
"Sure." I said, extending a hoof.
"Thanks, friend." Gratefully taking it as I pulled her up.
"So, Ember," I began. "You kinda have what I want. " I pointed at the fedora.
"Oh..."
"So what do you want for it?"
"Ooo! Ooo! I want some SpineTinglers by Robert Lawprance Stine!"
Buck. I didn't have that. I only got some bits. Well, I tried. At least I had gotten the pineapple. And I had made a new "friend".
We bid our farewells and parted ways. I started heading towards the train station, until I spotted somepony I knew. Carrot Top, or as me and Dinky call her, Auntie Top. Auntie Top was a rather serious, straight, down-to-Equestria type of pony and I have to respect that.
I said hello and she did, too. We chatted for a while, about random things, mostly. That is until I asked her what she had to trade.
"Oh, just a few of Noi's old SpineTinglers books.
SpineTinglers. By Robert Lawprance Stine.
"What do you want for it?" I questioned
"Well, what do you have, Sparkler?"
I reached up into my mane and pulled my three remaining bits. A pony's mane is a great place for storing things. For my Mother, muffins. For Auntie Top, her keys.
"Three bits." I told her
"Heh, okay." She passed me the books and took the bits.
"Thanks, Auntie Top!"
"No prob-"
I didn't hear the rest of it. I was already racing to find Ember Lockes.
Turns out, she was in the same place she was when I left. Which was, in fact the last place I thought to look. So, by the time I found her, I was tired, sweaty, and frustrated.
"Oh, hi Sparkler!" She greeted cheerfully.
"Hi." I said through gritted teeth. "I got your books."
I "magicked" them in front of her. Her eyes grew wide and her smile did, too. If that's even possible.
"Spinetinglers!" She cheered, hugging the books. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyo- "
"No problem, Ember."
"Hey! Where do you live?"
No. Bad Ember Lockes! Don't ask that! Don't give me bad serial killer vibes!
I could've lied, but I reluctantly didn't. I'm too trusting sometimes. Idiot.
"Ponyville."
"Oh my Celestia!" She gasped. "I'm moving there with my parents in a few weeks!"
Hmm. That was nice new- Wait. She still lives with her parents? Usually ponies leave their parents when they graduate Elementary school. But, then again, she doesn't have a cutie mark yet. And, I'm also a hypocrite 'cause I still leave with my Mother. And I'm fifteen years-old.
"Great."
"Yeah, we can still be friends, friend!" She squeaked and hugged me.
"Yeah..." I wasn't too fond of physical contact from ponies other than my family. Ember then released her grip, slapping a hoof to her head.
"Ow!" She winced, removing the hoof. "I f-forgot." She reached into her saddlebags and pulled out...
Ba-da-ba-da! I got a...Fedora!
"Thanks!" I said.
"No problem, Sparkler." She replied.
"Ah, well, I gotta now. So, bye."
"Okie! Bye, friend! Bye!" She called as waved her hoof vigorously while I walked away.
A bit clingy, but okay, I guess. I thought.
Ember Lockes reminded me a bit of my Mom, Pinkie Pie, and a bit of Lyra Heartstrings. She was, like I said, okay. Better than that Sunny Days.
I walked to the train station, when I realized: You gave all your bits to Auntie Top, you dingus! I facehoofed. What was I thinking! Dingus!
Then, I turned and saw my savior. Rainbow Dash. She liked me, and my Mom was her marefriend. Yes, my mom was dating the Rainbow Dash. I used to hate her, actually, but, eh, she grew on me.
I asked her if she could pay for me. And she replied with a, "Sure, Sparks,". On the train, Rainbow Dash had one of those, oh I dunno, "Ditzy Doo(?) and the blah blah blah". It sounded kinda cool, really. Might have to check those out. When we entered Ponyville station, I said goodbye to Dash and the Elements, and Dash left with the promise of seeing me later. And, I put on the fedora.
I trudged up the pathway to my cottage. The pathway bridged out to the right to Fluttershy's cottage. In a way, we were neighbors because we were the only to "houses" out near the Everfree Forest, but not really, because our cottages aren't next to each other. My hooves were killing me, but luckily Fluttershy walked with me until we came to the fork in the road. She and I said goodbye after I was assaulted with apologies because she had to leave.
I entered my home and walked to the kitchen where I knew Mom would be.
"Hey, Mom." I said.
"Oh, hey, Sparky!" She replied, smiling wide.
I looked around.
"Where's Dinky?"
"Oh, the Little Muffin be out playing with the CMC," She answered. "Nice fedora, it looks good on ya."
Knew it.
"Hey, Mom, I got it." I reached into my mane and pulled out the pineapple.
"Yes! Thanks you, Sweetie!" She took the pineapple from my aura and poked it. Then, shook it. And listened to it. "I think you gots a good one, Sparky!"
She gasped and smiled wide. She ran to grab a knife while levitated the cutting board, then put the pineapple on said board. I stood back.
Mom quickly began to cut. A giddy look appeared on her face. Excitement was in her eyes. When she finished, she looked in between the slices. Soon, her features saddened, tears started to fill her eyes.
"Spongebob w-wasn't in there." She sniffled.
Poor Mom. I thought.
I quickly reached over and hugged her, and she gladly returned it. I released my grip and put my hoof on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Mom. We'll get him next time."
She let a smile show. "Thanks, Sparky. You're right."
I narrowed my eyes, staring at the traitorous pineapple.
I swear on my family and my Mom's happiness, Spongebob. I will get you.
Ah, well. At least I got the fedora.