Chapter 1: An Old Friend
It was a normal day in Ponyvile, Applejack was bucking apples, Rainbow Dash was soaring over head and I was bouncing all over town trying to find the right party hat for Gummy's after party. I wanted to see If I can find Gummy's favorite party hat, and I was In a rush because there was only one left! Once I got a view of the hat store I was moving as fast I could, and I think going to fast because I crash into door. Once I peeled myself off the door, I got inside as quickly as I could without crashing in to anything else and asked
" Do you have Gummy's favorite party hat" I was talking as quickly as I possibly could so I can get back home as soon as possible.
"Sorry Pinkie, I sold my last one to somepony else." said the hat store owner "If you want, I can sell you another one?" as he said that, he was searching through a bright array of different size party hats.
"No, its fine. I'll just have to use one of my old own." I was disappointed but I hid it as well as I could from him, I hate to see anypony upset. "thanks for the help anyway, have a super duper day!"
I tried not showing how disappointed I was with myself about Gummy's favorite party hat, but I think I didn't do a good job at hiding it. As I walk home, I was imagining how the party was going to be a huge failure, so I just walk home and tried not to rush myself. As I dragged my hooves along the road, I could see my house slowly creep closer and closer. Once I reach the steps of my house, I was terrified to open the door. But I gathered all of the courage I had and open the door, only to get a shot of confetti at my face and followed by the sound of balloons popping. I didn't know what happen, I was so shocked by what happen that I was In a daze and seeing four miniature Gummy wearing party hats as they were dancing around my head. I was trying to shake off the daze I was in but it was easier said then done. I could hear somepony asking me if I'm ok in a worried tone of voice. Once I shaken off most of the daze I was in, I could see somepony overhead of me. That first I didn't who this pony, till I saw a rubber chicken with a big, bright red number two on the front of it.
"Pinkie, are you alright? I'm sorry, I think I may have overloaded your party cannon." he was trying to give the situation we were in some humor.
"Its fine Cheese" I was trying to get up slowly so I wouldn't hurt myself. "The important thing right now is this..." as I said that, I gave him the biggest hug I could give him without putting myself back into a daze again
"Good to know we're still friends" Cheese soon wrap his hooves around me to give me a warm embrace "again, sorry about the confetti. Boneless said it would be nice to surprise you, but I think I got to rapped up in making a grand entrance."
I was about to about to say something but then Cheese gave me another surprise, it turned out that HE was the pony who bought the party hat I needed for Gummy! Cheese said that he wanted to give it to Gummy because he knows how picky Gummy can be. I was happy about the hat that I rush into the house to find Gummy and put the party hat on him. Once I found him upstairs, I put the party hat on him and I knew once I put that party hat on him, that he was so happy! I was so rapped up with Gummy, I forgot about Cheese outside. When I heard Cheese from outside asking me if he could come in, I just told him he could because I had my focus on Gummy at the moment.
When I got over by how CUTE Gummy looked, I joined Cheese downstairs and begin to talk about what we been doing between the last six mouths since we met each other planning Rainbow Dash's birthday. we traded stories about things we done, I told him everything, from castle in town, to tirek and how my friends and me turning in to SUPER RAINBOW PONY! After I told him about what been going on in Ponyvile, I asked him how things were going for him? He said that he been planning tons of party since he left and asked if he could help out with Gummy's after party. Since I was behind with the party already, I say he could help out and stay for the party if he wanted. It was great having Cheese help me out, I got things done 5x faster then I do alone. Once we finish, I talked with Cheese for a while but I felt like something was wrong with Cheese, I felt like he was hiding something from me. I didn't have much time to think about it much cause my friend arrived and we were so thrilled to see Cheese. Once they all caught up with Cheese, I decided get the party started! The party was so much fun and Gummy was so happy, plus everypony else seem to be having great time. But during the party I saw Cheese and he seem worried, I didn't know what was wrong with him. so I decided to ask Cheese if he was ok but I knew he was hiding it from me. So, I tried to think of something else during the party but I couldn't because I was so worried about Cheese. Once the party was over, Cheese asked to stay over for a moment.
"Bye Pinkie. Thanks for inviting us to the party." Fluttershy sounded like she normally did, super quiet." I had a ton of fun."
"Good to know, I'm glad you enjoy the party! See you at the next party!" I was so glad she enjoy the party, you could hear all the happiness in my voice.
Once I was done talking to my friends, I saw Cheese inside drinking some punch. Cheese saw me the moment I walk back in to the house, and it seem like he wanted to ask me something. I wait for a minute to see if he would say something but he just drown his word with the punch. so I said
"Great party, huh?"
"Yea, it was a ton of fun! One of the best party I been that!" Cheese sound like he was in a cheerful tone. If this was one of the BEST party he been at, I want to know what kind of party he has been to?
"So, I was wondering..." I could alright see the look on his face, but I had to ask "you look worried during the party, I was wondering if you are ok?"
"yea, I just..." he was stuttering, he couldn't a word out.
"What's wrong? Was it the party, did I overdo the balloons?" that this point, I was in full panic mood " Come on Cheese, what's up?!?"
" I just wanted to ask you something?" he was trying to say something but in panic mood, so I cut him before he was don talking.
"what is it? Do you need help with boneless? Do you need help getting party balloons or something? Do you need help with party hats? do you..." I was talking in a really cheerful and high-pitch voice, which could explain why Cheese got a little annoyed and said something I didn't expect him saying.
"I WANTED YOU TO JOIN ME FOR A YEAR!" Once those words burst out of him, everything turned quiet.
We just stood in the silence of the aftermath of the party. As we stood there, I could only hear him inhale and exhale even though I could see him trying so had to not make a sound. I didn't know what to say or do, why did Cheese want me to go with him to someplace I don't even know, he hasn't even told me WHERE yet. I wanted to say something but I couldn't think of anything to say, my mind went blank. It seem like we stood there for hours, months, years but it was probably just two or three minutes.
"I... I'm sorry." Cheese finally talked, knocking down the walls of silence that surrounded us. " You probably want me to explain what's going on, right?" I simply nodded my head in agreement and he begin to explain.
We sat down and he started to answer so of the questions I had circling in my head. Turns out Cheese was going to travel to a lot of places this year because of all the parties he been sensing with his cheesy sense. He has always been traveling alone for so long, so he wanted me to join him for a year to go around Equestria to plan party with him. It would be nice but I was worried, could I leave my friends and Ponyvile for a year? I didn't want to leave my friends but I could learn more about different forms of parties, parties like the Gala! Cheese knows more about different forms of party then me because he planned millions of parties with different themes, I could learn so much from this trip and because a better party planner! Plus I could make more friends all over Equestria, that would be so great! And yet, I feel like if I leave Ponyvile, everyone is going to be to unhappy without me around. I didn't want to make my friends sad, I'm the element of laughter for Celestia sake!
"You look worried, did I overwhelm you? Cheese started to look worried, I didn't want him to feel bad so I had to say something, I couldn't stay quiet but what would I say?
"I'll think about it" I didn't want to look at Cheese, I was so nervous.
"I understand, I know it must be a big shock to hear me asking you this." Cheese sounded so calming."I'll wait for you answer, hope to hear from you soon."
Once he said that he left, but I could still feel the pressure he left on me. I didn't know what to do, I would love to do this but how would my friends react. I decided to ask Twilight, she must have known what to do to. so I rushed over to the caste and ask her what should I do. Once I got there, I told her everything that happened but all she said was...
"I can't make you do anything Pinkie, its your choice"
"But if I do go, I'll won't be here to plan Ponyvile's parties, and if I can't plan Ponyvile's parties then there wont be any parties, and then if there isn't any parties everyone will get sad and if everyone get sad and it will be all my FAULT!" Right after I said that, I was about to burst in to tears. "what am I going to do?"
"Pinkie don't cry" Twilight said in sweet and calm tone of voice " Ponyvile will be fine, if you want to do this... go ahead, its you choice"
"But Ponyvile..." I was going to say something but Twilight cut ahead of me
"Cheese asked you, not Ponyvile" Twilight sounded so mature
Once Twilight said that I knew what I had to do, so I looked all over Ponyvile to see if I can find Cheese. I looked all over till I found him walking towards my house. I was so excited t see him that I may have crashed into him. Once I got off him, I told him that I would join him for the journey and once I told him that, he was so happy to hear that. He asked me if we could get started tomorrow, and I was so excited that I said yes. Once he agreed I rushed to the castle to tell Twilight, and once I got there I told her the news.
"I'm so happy for you Pinkie" Twilight was so happy for me "when are you going on your trip?"
"Tomorrow morning!" I said with a overwhelming amount of confidence and joy that I became blinded from a hush reality a fellow dragon would reminded me of.
"TOMORROW!" Spike said in a state of shock, but I was more in shock. where did he come from!?!
"You can't do that!" Spike was in full parenting mood as he begin to explain why I have made a foolish mistake " you don't even know him that well, and you decided to join him for a YEAR!"
"Yup, you got it" I was talking with a blinding amount joy "doesn't it sound fun!"
"what, fun! ARE YOU CRAZY!" Spike was yelling at the top of his lungs "IF I WAS YOU I..."
"well, your not." Twilight said in a very firm tone of voice "you shouldn't judge Pinkie, I am sure she will be fine."
After Spike's little rant, Spike left me and Twilight alone. Twilight said sorry for how Spike behave, but I was so blinded by happiness and joy that I forgot everything Spike said! Instead, we planned out everything. She helped me plan who would take care of my house and Gummy, then we decided to go over to my house to pack up the things I needed. Once we were done, we talked for a while about how much fun this trip would be and how Ponyvile will be fine if I take this trip but a question began to grow in my mind. It was like a plunder seed, that was beginning to grow and grow in to a huge black vine with sharp thorns sticking out of it. It felt like it was beginning to wrap tightly around my mind as if it as trying to squeeze the answer out of my brain. I tried to ignore it, but it only grow more and more tighter. I needed to rest, maybe that could have help. so I told to Twilight
"Its getting late, I better get some sleep for tomorrow." I tried to put a genuine smile so Twilight won't worry about me.
"Yea, good idea. See you tomorrow Pinkie, good night." Twilight was half way out the when she said that, but only then and there was it when I realize it was dark outside. Were we planning for that long!?!
Once she was gone, I headed to my bedroom get some rest and try forget the growing question in my mind. But It didn't work, I could feel the question grow and grow in to this monster vine!
why? why does he want me to go with him?
I could feel the question develop more and more, gaining more reason why I shouldn't go with him.
There are so many other party planners in Equestria, why pick me? I don't even know him that well! we known each other for almost, what, a FEW hours! why did I say yes? why does he want me to join him? what if Spike is right and I made a huge mistake? what am I going to do?
I didn't sleep much that night, I could feel those questions circle me like a swarm of sharks. when I finally fell asleep, I could still feel the monster vine grow more and more. They followed me in to my dream and hunted me, it was like those vines were slowly beginning to suffocate me as they kept on asking the same question over and over again.
why join him? he may hurt you? why pick you when there are so many other ponies he can get help from? why did you make a mistake like this? can you really trust him?
I woke up from the sound of somepony knocking on my door, I soon realize what time it was and I rush to get ready. how can I be so dumb and not set a alarm! I didn't have time to think about that because I was in the middle of brushing my hair and getting my bags. Once I was finish, I rush to the door with my suitcase. Once I opened the door, I saw Cheese standing with a smile and his bags.
"Hey pinkie, I got all my stuff ready and to go. what about..." He was talking with happy and upbeat tone till I saw his smile turn in to a face of worry.
"Are you ok?" I could tell he was concern about me but I really didn't want him to be. "You really look tired, did you get ANY sleep?"
"yea, it was a very long night for me. Gummy didn't let me sleep last night, I guess he doesn't want me to leave" I was lying through my fake smile but Cheese couldn't tell.
"He must really care about you then. we better get going, we don't want to miss the train." He seem like he couldn't tell that I was lying, maybe he can't tell the different between a fake smile an a real smile, maybe not all his parties are so great after all if he can't if a pony is happy or not.
We got ready to head out to the train station, I brought Gummy with us so I could give him to Fluttershy at the station. I said my goodbyes to my place and we began to head out for the station. Normally the walk to the station Is about 10 minutes but it felt like hours, because of the mix of how quiet Cheese was during the walk and the questions that hunted me last night beginning to come back to me. can you really him? it kept on repeating over and over again can you trust him? you don't even know him that well. it got worst and worst as we got closer and close to the station maybe he is lying to you. how can you trust a pony you only known for a few hours? do you really think you may the right choice?
"I don't know" I heard myself say out loud. I didn't say it loud but it was loud enough for somepony to hear.
"What you say?" Cheese seemed to be thinking of something else when I said that.
"Nothing, I didn't say anything." I was lying again, but It didn't seem the least bit convincing to him
"Pinkie, what's wrong?" he seem really concerned "are you ok?"
"Nothing" I was so nervous that I couldn't look at him.
Cheese stopped walking and stopped me as well "Pinkie, what is going on?" he sounded really concerned, I never heard him this concerned.
"Pinkie... I'm serious, what's going on" he started to sound really serious, I didn't want to say anything but I had to say something. that's when I heard myself say
"why me?" I was staring straight in to his eyes, I didn't know what to do but my mind took control without me knowing by making me continue the question.
"why do you want me to join you? we don't know each other that well, so what makes you think I'm the right pony for this?" I took control again but it was too late, I alright ask him. the look on his face seemed surprise, I shouldn't have not answer him anything.
"do you remember what I told you when you were trying to leave Ponyvile?" he seemed cold when he asked me that, I didn't know how to react.
I tried to remember what he said to me that day, till it hit me like a brick to the face. He told me that he looked up to me when we were fillies, he looked up to me because... because... I don't know. Why DID he looked up to me?
"you said you look up to me but..." I could already see the look of confusion on his face "why DID you look up to me?"
"Pinkie, isn't it obvious?" his face turned from a cold and stern to a bright and warm " the reason why I looked up to you is because you are happy, energetic, and you can make anypony smile! something I could never do. That's why I want to bring with me, plus..."
I was shocked already, what else could he say!?!
"I know I only known you for a while but..." he started to stutter, he seem really nervous " I feel like you one of my best friend, we get along so well and you... you seem perfect"
I could feel my heart begin to beat faster, and I didn't even know why! but I knew what I had to do right then and there. We got back on track to the train station, and it seem we were moving a bit faster because Cheese became more talked after that. Once we got that the station, we saw all my friends there waiting for Cheese and I to arrive.
"THERE you guys are, where have you been!?!" Rainbow Dash sounded impatient as ever, I wonder how long were we walking?
I was about to say something till Cheese said "We got lost, sorry everypony. To be honest, I'm not the best at direction" I knew b he was lying because I was there with him but he was so good at lying because I almost believed him! Rainbow told us that the train was going to be there in a minute, good thing we got there in time. I was talking to Rainbow till I heard Spike asking if he could talk to me.
"You sure you don't want to change your mind? you still have a chance to..." he seem more quiet then the last time I saw him but I still cut him off.
"Spike, I know your worried about me but I'll be fine" I tried to sound as mature as I could.
"How can you trust him so much, you barely know him! I know you guys are friends but still.." he started to sound more and more worried as he spoke
I was at a lost of words again, but something inside me answer for me again because I said "I just do, and you don't have to worry."
Spike still seem concerned, but I could tell that he understood my decision. I talked to my friends for a few more minutes till we all could hear the train pulling in. I said my farewells to my friends and to Gummy, and headed on to the train with Cheese. We sat close to a window so we could wave to my friends for a last time. We sat there for a few minutes in silent till the train slowly started to move, and I waved to my friends a last time. When I was waving goodbye to my friends, I was thinking what I said to Spike I just do. Normally I would just forget about that, but ever since Cheese asked me to join him, I been thinking more and more about things like this. I didn't know why I said something like that, but after a while of thinking to myself, I soon realized why I said that to Spike. I may not know Cheese for a very long time and I know some of my friends may say its a bad idea to join somepony I barely know! But something inside me just trusts him, I never felt like this before but when I'm with Cheese, I feel so... different. I know I made a risky decision joining somepony I barely know but I believe I made the right decision. I don't know how this year with Cheese will turn out but I know one thing is for sure...
This is going to be one crazy year.