Something's off
Pinkie Pie was not in a good mood, which was unsettling in itself. Many ponies in Ponyville were under the impression that Pinkie actually couldn’t stop smiling, be it genetic or psychotic they weren’t sure. The rare few who had seen her visibly sad often had an even stupider misconception however, one that Pinkie was grumbling about in her head. According to what she had overheard from Colgate, some mares assumed that Pinkie’s hair was a barometer of her mood. Sure, one time her hair had deflated when she got sad. ONE TIME. Now every time her hair was a bit wet from her shower everybody was walking on eggshells around her. Pinkie was pretty random at times, but even she couldn’t believe the idiocy behind it.
However that wasn’t what was making her angry, it was just one of the many gripes bubbling up to the surface. Pinkie so rarely got mad that when she got a chance to really let loose, she had a lot of dirty laundry to air. There were the ponies talking about her hair, the time Mrs. Cake yelled at her for not cleaning her room, and that one occasion where Twilight had implied Pinkie shouldn’t have another serving of cake. Oooh, Pinkie was going to be thinking about that one for a long time. As mad as Pinkie was, she was actually sort of glad about her situation. She finally had an evening to herself to vent her feelings with a big bowl of ice cream and two tiny scaly ears. Really, Pinkie probably would have enjoyed the evening alone if it wasn’t today. Today should have been a special day, specifically her birthday.
“Sigh...” Pinkie finally verbalized her mood. She should have known that her friends weren’t going to throw her a surprise party after what had happened last year, but when they made no plans she just assumed they were trying to redeem themselves. But, it was now 4:00 in the afternoon and there was no party going down. Rarity had taken the day to go to Canterlot, Applejack had worked herself to the bone and Fluttershy was doing the bunny census. No one was going to be in the mood for a party today, let alone a surprise party. “I guess it’s sort of my fault.” Pinkie mumbled to herself. “None of them really need to worry about dates usually because I’ll just remind them. Still, they should have remembered. I never forgot one of their birthdays. I never even forgot Twilight’s and hers was three days after the summer sun celebration.” Pinkie stopped herself before this train of thought got any worse. Her friends didn’t do this intentionally, and she just needed some time to remind herself that. Her friends were going to forgive her when they figured out what they had done, and they’d have an awesome birthday party. A week after her birthday albeit. “I’m going to need some more ice cream ” She sighed as she walked back home to sugar cube corner.
Content with the melancholy that was going to be her night, Pinkie walked slowly back to her home. She was shaken out of this state however when she heard a crash from inside followed by nervous, raspy cursing. What followed after was a fluttering of wings and a cacophony of loud noises. Horns blaring, plates crashing and balloons popped, all unmistakeable sounds to Pinkie. Someone was setting up a party inside, failing miserably, and Pinkie knew who it was. Rainbow Dash was up to something, and for once Pinkie was not up to it. Of course the obvious property damage was getting her mad, but more importantly Pinkie wanted some time to herself. Hopefully Rainbow wouldn’t mind, Celestia only knows how many times she had used that line on her, but Pinkie was upset and just needed one night. She could have this party with Rainbow Dash later. “Maybe set up by someone else...” Pinkie thought to herself as she opened the door.
The room was quite predictably a disaster. Apparently the crash from outside had been the punch bowl, and now the floor was drenched in purple sugar. The table cloth had been ripped off the table, taking all of the other plates and treats with it into the purple stain factory below. On the ceiling was a banner that seemed to escape the terror down beneath, sadly it read “HAPPY” in big letters, and then Pinkie in tiny letters as Rainbow had apparently overestimated the size she had to work with, squeezing in whatever she could in the blank space. Finally, in the corner Pinkie laid her eyes on the messiest part of the party, the hostess herself. Rainbow Dash was in the corner cursing, trying to unwrap her hooves from the table cloth encircling them. Her eyes looked like she hadn’t slept in days, and weirdest of all she was shaking. For the briefest of moments Pinkie thought that maybe there was a party planned for her.
However, the scene in front of her may have been many things but it certainly wasn’t planned. This probably took Rainbow Dash twenty minutes, and Pinkie was slowly realizing just how many of the supplies used were hers. Specifically all of them. Seeing the swearing and shaking blue Pegasus before her, Pinkie was pretty confident that Rainbow had remembered her birthday about a half hour ago, gulped down a gallon of coffee and frantically decorated the only place she could think of. “I guess it’s the thought that counts,” Pinkie exhaled, and then to herself “But first thing tomorrow she is going to mop this floor sooo hard.”
Just then, Rainbow Dash turned around to see her friend with a defeated look on her face. It wasn’t sad or filled with despair, but it was still just as foreign from what Pinkie’s face usually looked like and that scared Rainbow. Before Pinkie could politely ask Rainbow to leave she leapt up and tried to save the day so to speak.
“Pinkie! I...I uhhm, you’re early! Oh you silly pony you I should have known not to try and guess when you’d be coming home. You’re so random. So random. That’s why you’re my best friend you know. Well, I mean there’s more than that but, you know. I’m not great with words. Sometimes I’m like Fluttershy even. No, actually that’s a lie. Why would I say that I bet you’re wondering? Why would I say that?” Rainbow’s 100 mile per hour speech had slowly ground to a halt, but the adrenaline was still pumping. Cold sweat coated her body and her eyes had the unmistakeable look of desperation.
Pinkie was a bit weirded out, not just because Rainbow was sweating buckets, but more because she was actually caring about something. Rainbow was loyal to her friends obviously, but to actually do something like this during her ideal naptime? Pinkie would really have to thank Rainbow Dash about this. Tomorrow. First though Pinkie needed to quickly get Rainbow out of her house.
“Dashie?” Pinkie cut her off mercifully.
“Yes Pinkie?”
“Was there anything you wanted to say to me that could be summed up in a sentence?”
“Oh, well, I value and appreciate your friendship? Like a lot. Even if I don’t-“
“Thanks, but I was thinking of something a bit more festive.”
“Crap! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Rainbow cried while she pulled a cord connected to the ceiling. The cord didn’t do anything, but Rainbow Dash was pretty confident the balloons were descending from the ceiling in beautiful shades of pink. With a million dollar smile she looked at Pinkie as if she could transfer her smile into her through osmosis.
“Thank you Rainbow Dash, better late than never you know. But now that we’ve got that out of the way I’d really like a night to myself so if you’ll excuse me.” Pinkie said as she crossed over to the stairs.
“But, Pinkie c’mon! I set up this party. It’s your birthday, and you know you want to party! Right?”
“Not tonight Rainbow.”
“B-but, it’s your birthday! Pinkie, your joking right?” Rainbow asked, looking more and more vulnerable as she spoke. Her worst nightmare for today was unfolding right in front of her, and she could hardly believe it. Pinkie however had already turned her head and was just trying to relax for a night.
“Rainbow, we can joke and prank tomorrow. Today was not a great day for me and I’d really just like one day to myself,” Pinkie turned her head, seeing the frightened filly before her. She looked like she did when they toured the weather factory last year, but that couldn’t be right. Pinkie theorized that Dash could not handle coffee, and tired to leave it at that. “Goodnight Rainbow.”
What happened to Rainbow next could only be described as a deflation. Like the countless popped balloons all of the store, the forced happiness and pep left her, replaced in an instant by fear and sadness. If Pinkie wasn’t mistaken she even saw a tear start to roll down Rainbow’s cheek. In a blink of an eye Pinkie's fearless friend had become an utterly pathetic sight. For someone who’s middle name could have been Surprise (it fits better than Diane), this was a big one even to her. In that moment, the sad little party had started up again in its own weird way.
The sun was setting now on Sugar Cube Corner, and Rainbow Dash was sinking along with it. Purely out of instinct, Rainbow had turned her head away from Pinkie, hiding her tears with her mockingly colourful mane. Usually right now Rainbow would be mortified, crying not just in public, but in front of her best friend. But right now it didn't matter because she was in another world. She had a reputation as the fastest and coolest pony in Ponyville, and that did not entail bawling her eyes out in her friend's parlor. Her reputation would have told her to say sorry to Pinkie for forgetting her birthday and maybe give her an autograph to make it even. Her reputation would have let this whole situation solve itself and let Pinkie come back to her when she had cooled down. Her reputation was a lot of things, but it wasn't perfect, and more importantly it wasn't what she wanted to be.
Rainbow Dash didn't want to be known because of how fast she was in a race, but instead of how fast she'd be at her friends' side. When push comes to shove Dash would always help her friends, no matter what. But in everyday life, the little things weren't as guaranteed. Early morning apple bucking, midday modeling with Rarity, late afternoon meet-ups all constantly fell through the cracks of laziness, and that wasn't even counting the times Rainbow would just skip intentionally for flying practice. The worst part though was how understanding all of her friends were, never complaining or voicing their real feelings to Rainbow. But she knew exactly how they really felt, the disappointment barely keeping itself behind their eyes. It was then that Rainbow felt her worst, wondering how she ever became the element of loyalty.
However, Pinkie was different. She never let Rainbow be anything less than her best and If Rainbow had an excuse it would vaporize under Pinkie's inquisition. Rainbow couldn't hide from her, she couldn't outrun her and she could not get rid of her. But in the end Rainbow always ended up having a fantastic, if sporadic, day with her best friend. Pinkie reminded Rainbow just how much fun it was too be out with her friends, and that there was more to life than the Wonderbolts. The pink party pony brought out the best in her like a coach in friendship, pushing her to never take the easy route. Truly when Rainbow was most proud of herself, she could usually trace it back to her bubbly little friend. And now on the one day of the year when Rainbow should have been the one to call up on Pinkie, she had slept in. She had been lazy, and forgetful and completely lacking of the virtues which Pinkie had inspired her with.
And now she was watching her best friend go off into her room, alone, on her special day of the year. Pinkie would have parties because the sun looked extra pretty that day, parties that went long into the night. The idea of her going to her room, early on the one day most befitting of a party crushed Rainbow Dash. When she looked up and saw the "party" she had created Dash felt even worse at finally seeing her sad attempt. But what was causing the tears to start streaming down her face wasn't her own disappointment or anything noble, but fear. The fear that this was going to be the last straw that broke her kind friend's back. Images of a fed-up Pinkie, in her room with all of her frustration being directed at Rainbow wouldn't leave her head. Pinkie pie, crying and cursing all alone, or worse, with her rocks and flour. Then she'd come to a realization that Rainbow Dash wasn't worth her time, and that she never really had. It terrified Rainbow Dash. Reputation be damned, she wasn't going to be able to hold anything back.
However, Pinkie wasn't going to have any of this. Of course Pinkie didn't have any idea why Dash was sobbing on her floor out of nowhere. Pinkie really wasn't following the whole situation before her, which was a weird role-reversal for her and she was not in the mood for this at all. Pinkie was almost tempted to walk up the stairs and let Rainbow believe that Pinkie wasn't hearing her right now. Almost, but not quite. Because even on her darkest days Pinkie didn't want to see her friends do anything but smile. With a final sigh, Pinkie walked over to Rainbow and put a fore-leg around her bent neck.
"Dashie? Is there something wrong? Something you aren't telling me?" Pinkie asked as sweetly as she could. She didn't know this just made Rainbow feel worse, but she could tell when Rainbow finally looked up at her. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks stained with tears. Rainbow wasn't just tearing up, but she was sobbing. However, she tried to at least keep it together when she eventually spoke up.
"You don't deserve this Pinkie... you really don't." Rainbow finally got out after calming herself down a bit. Rainbow Dash was still scared, feeling worse and worse about herself with every breath she took. Pinkie's kindness to her wasn't helping her feel any better either. But if Pinkie was going to take time to console one of her friends, she wasn't going to get all serious about it too.
"I don't deserve this party? Well that's awfully harsh. I mean I've never had a punch pool before but I thought I was a pretty special pony" Pinkie bubbly joked about her party before her.
"No, no no no. I mean, you deserve so much more. I mean if it was my birthday I wouldn't be able to take more than two steps without setting off a booby trap of balloons, or like there would be a giant cake. I don't know, but it would be better than... than this."
"Well obviously Dashie! This mark on my flank doesn't warn people I have a latex allergy, its because I'm a party planner! Its OK if you can't make a party as well as me. In fact if you did I'd be pretty jealous. It would be fun I guess, but still Jealous. Actually, would I have time for that because with all the fun-"
Rainbow wasn't going to let Pinkie make light out of the situation however. "Pinkie, I forgot about your birthday! Don't try and act like that doesn't make you mad! I, I bucked up!" Rainbow let out with a vulnerable crack. "What I mean to say is that you don't deserve...me. Its your birthday and I don't know a pony who deserves a party more. C'mon Pinkie, don't just bottle it all up! Get angry with me! Just, let me have it alright!"
Alright, Rainbow was getting emotional. Pinkie Pie wanted to help her friend, but if she was going to do her this favour, this night wasn't going to get any sadder. Rainbow may have ruined her own party for Pinkie, so now it was Pinkie's turn to ruin Rainbow's pity party.
"Well, alright if that's what you really want," Pinkie spoke, stretching out her words in her ever present playful manner. "Rainbow Dash, sometimes you make me absolutely bonkers! Although you could say I'm always bonkers, but this time that's a bad thing. I mean sometimes when were out pranking and you'll tell a joke, I;ll have a cramp in my side for months! Or when I make you a super spicy cupcake as a prank and you act like there's nothing wrong to not hurt my feelings! How considerately inconsiderate! But you know what really grinds my gears?"
Rainbow was slowly starting to open her eyes and calm down. She had expected to take the verbal whipping of her life and she was expecting Pinkie Pie to finally get mad. But now she was just confused, because Pinkie was talking like it was just a regular day. Not her birthday, not the day her friendship ended but just a regular day.
"What I really hate is when you try so hard to make up for an honest mistake and just beat yourself up over it. If you would just sit down for once and see that I'm not going to go crazy on you Dashie, you could see that I'm happy that you went through so much effort for me. Because when you do something so nice for me and you fell so bad, that just isn't right at all. Hoo man, it feels good to get that off my chest!" With that Pinkie moved Rainbow's mane out of her eyes and finally looked right in the eyes. Seeing Pinkie's bright blue eyes and even brighter smile, Rainbow couldn't help but cheer up, even if just a little. "Also, when she completely stains my carpet beyond repair and doesn't offer to buy me a new one, but that isn't going to happen tonight is it?"
Finally Rainbow let out a chuckle. "Sorry about that, you can count on it. Its really the least I can do."
"Thanks Dashie! Feeling all better now?"
"Well, yeah I guess, but Pinkie can I speak to you honestly for like a minute? I mean like, sappy stuff. I just want to say some stuff and now is as good a time as ever," Dash said as she broke from Pinkie, walking over to her couch in the corner. "Oh, also it DOES NOT leave this room. promise?"
Pinkie Pie just gave her an look which screamed "Really? Do you even need to ask?" Rainbow had to let out another chuckle. "Ok, well I know I'm supposed to be the cool pony around here. And of course I am," A little bit of Rainbow's old bravado returned to her now that the chaos from before was settling. " but that means that I'm not always that talkative with things. I never really tell you just how thankful I am for all the fun we have, and every time you convince me to get out of bed and go pranking. Pinkie, you're my best friend and you give me so much! Tonight was supposed to be my chance to show you how much you meant to me. Instead you got this, uhm party? Please don't use that as a barometer of our relationship, I wouldn't even use it for me and Trixie. Anyway, Pinkie I know you had a bad day, and I now know that you aren't going to hate everyone and go crazy over it. But I also know that you deserve more than that, especially on your birthday. So... are you going to invite me to your party tonight or am I going to have to crash it?"
Pinkie Pie was suddenly very happy, as she had just received the perfect gift from her favourite pegasus. An invitation to hang out, not the other way around. Sure, eating ice cream and complaining to gummy was the one thing she had looked forward to that day which hadn't fell through. But what type of party pony would she be if she didn't make room for one more guest. Gummy wasn't going to mind for sure.
"Rainbow Dash, I'd be honoured. Of course Madame Le flour will be appalled at having to change the seating plan, but what are you going to do?" Pinkie deadpanned before her pupils went off in opposite directions, her trademark crazy eyes. Rainbow Dash was horrified for a split second until Pinkie yelled gotcha. They walked up the stairs to Pinkie's room for a night of gossip and sweet, sweet vanilla ice cream just like they would any day. But underneath it all, their friendship had grown to something much stronger. The least serious and most crazy ponies around had finally had a moment where they had stopped being silly and cocky and really conversed. And they had clicked even more. Tonight wasn't going to be Pinkie's favourite birthday ever, and in the coming days there were going to be four huge apologies from all her friends. But tonight was going to be a good day, spent between friends. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were actually optimistic with all of the fun things that were going to happen tonight.
And as she closed the door, Pinkie turned and winked out the door into seemingly nothingness. "Real mature. Get your minds out of the gutter," she giggled. Rainbow Dash was going to ask, but she didn't need to get into this. Tonight had been difficult enough to comprehend and she needed to unwind. With Pinkie. She really was full of surprises.
[Wow, first fic I have ever completed! So, please tell me what you think of the finished product below. I am going to try and publish it to Equestria Daily in the same way that a dog can try and chase a jet, so any suggestions are appreciated (grammatical or content). Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read!]