[Sweet Apple Acres, Open-PM, Invite, Friends, Family] Apple Bloom's Big Day!

[Rosewind]

Pinkie Pie was busy stuffing her face with cake. Lots and lots and lots of cake. She felt her baby pet alligator, Gummy, nomming away on her fluffy pink tail as she worked her way through a particularly huge slice of apple-strawberry tallcake. Tallcake was the opposite of shortcake, one of her personal creations, and clocked in at about a thousand million calories. Pinkie was working on her second slice when she perked an ear, hearing several shouts from Applejack about pin the tail on the pony, one of her favorite games! That was beside pin the tail on the donkey, and the griffon -- especially the griffon. She quickly stuffed more cake in her face, frosting dripping off her muzzle -- she was ready to jump in and play herself after Apple Bloom.

[colour=#ED458B]"Arrrrf! Nom nom nom nom nom nom nom!" [/colour]

Pinkie glanced over her shoulder, curious to get a glance of the young filly and...where was she? Pinkie shrugged and turned to her last bite of cake. She opened her mouth wide to scarf it, and froze. A sharp pain jolted down her body, causing her fluffy mane to shoot out in all directions! [colour=#ED458B]"AiiiiiiyyyyyyyyyEEEEEEEEEE!" [/colour]She jumped. High. So high, she snagged the rafter right next to the one she broke earlier, the fake tail hanging off her rump. She looked down at the party, her body swaying back and forth in midair, both of her tails swishing. Gummy held fast to her pink tail, blinking his gumdrop purple eyes. [colour=#ED458B]"Teehee...I think you won, Apple Bloom! You definitely pinned the tail on the pony! NOW GET ME DOWN FROM HERE! AAAAAHH!"[/colour]

[Lux]

Guiding's head felt like a tornado hit a bee hive! He felt so dizzy that the unicorn could barely stand much less walk. If this was what cider did to ponies, he didn't want anymore ever in his life.

It was bad enough that his head was spinning, but the activity of the room was making things worse. He saw a blur of colours as ponies dashed from one place to another. He heard some ponies singing, but it grated on his mind like a pony's hoof on a chalkboard.

The pony then felt something wet encase his head and saw his teacher standing before him. The teacher told him to sing. The colt had no clue how signing would help his throbbing head but he never questioned his teacher's request.

As he sung, he began to feel like something was building inside of his stomach. Light was no doctor, but he knew that something was threatening to come up that should for all normal reasons stay in his stomach. He remembered when he was a younger colt getting sick and having to miss school for a week. During that time, he felt the same way he did now, and he knew what was coming next.

Quickly he sraggered around, looking for something, anything. Then he saw it, the now empty punch bowl that went airborn earlier and struck him in the head. It would have to do as his stomach was threatening to rebell at any moment. He began to run for it, but it felt like he was doing so in slow motion. It was like the more he ran the bowl seemed to get farther away. Finally he reached it, and not a moment too soon.

And like a volcano, Guiding Light erupted into the bowl.

(OOC: Apologies for the gross out factor. I tried to keep it as non-icky as possible)

[Bellosh]

Trying to decide where in the unfamiliar town of Ponyville Ingrid Marie could seek help from, she almost stopped paying attention to the calamity around her. Suddenly a wet tower flew in the unicorn’s direction; ‘catching’ it with a levitation spell, Ingrid took a few seconds to realize that she could use the tower to clean Apple Bloom’s barf off of her. As Ingrid wiped her clothes and the rest of her sullied body to the best of her ability, she turned back and witnessed Cheerilee’s valiant attempts to salvage the party. Ms. Marie pitied the schoolteacher, deeming her efforts a lost cause in the face of such adversity.

[colour=#008080]~Come on Immie, we can’t just leave Cheerilee to fix things all by her lonesome… can we?~[/colour]

Ingrid Marie desperately wanted to flee the scene and flag down somepony or two to reel the birthday party in. A nagging feeling kept the unicorn from leaving the barn though; a feeling telling her that she alone was now the only pony who could avail Cheerilee and the foals. Wrestling with her thoughts, Ingrid got caught by surprise as a shrill scream filled the room. Still stuck in her stupor, Apple Bloom had somehow pinned a fake pony tail onto that oafish pink mare back from the roof incident; in a twisted sort of sense, it was only fitting that the pink pony was now dangling from the rafter.

The latest mishap fresh in her mind, Ingrid Marie determinedly shook her head and cantered right back towards the party. Her mind now intent on staying, the unicorn now knew what she had to do. [colour=#008080]“Applejack… sweetheart,”[/colour] Ingrid assertively instructed the proud cowpony; [colour=#008080]“We’ve got to call this party a wrap, mmkay. Send everypony home and get Apple Bloom to bed so she can sleep her sickness off. Cheerilee and I can help round up the other foals and escort them back.”[/colour] Leaving the distressed pink pony hanging right over her, Ingrid made a determination to stick to her guns and knock some sense back into AJ.

[SteelEagle]

Apple Bloom stood for a second in mute confusion as she heard a burst of noise coming directly in front of her, like a thousand trumpets bleating mightily at once mixed with cannons and horns. After a minor moment, Apple Bloom slowly removed her blindfold. She had to deal with the sudden burst of light- she made a mental note to get rid of every light in the world or tried to, seeing as anything involving her mentalling was less worthy than usual- and shut her eyes, opening them slowly to reveal the image of a dangling Pinkie. It took a few seconds for Apple Bloom to put the pieces together but when she did, she started giggling. That giggling turned to snorting and the snorting to chortling and the chortling to guffawing and finally sobs of laughter as she fell over on her side.

[colour=#ff0000]"Pinkie Pah, yer as funny as a...Pinkie Pah!"[/colour] Apple Bloom continued laughing, growing louder and louder as she nearly convulsed on the floor. She wiped her eyes, completing the task of bonking herself in the forehead at the same time, and stood up. Well, she did her best imitation at first, pulling up as if in slow motion. Eventually she was up on all fours and she surveyed the scene. Ingrid had positioned herself under Pinkie, nobly ready to save Pinkie.

[colour=#ff0000]"Yer good, Pinkie Pah! *HIC* Just..leter gooo," [/colour]She drawled on, stumbling and picking up both her blindfold and the pin, then looked over to her assembled guests. More specifically, the foals.

[colour=#ff0000]"Who wantsta go next? Ya'll go, Ah'll be*HIC* presents, and Ah..."[/colour] She finished, sitting down with the blindfold and pin in the air.

[colour=#ff0000]"Who wantsta go?"[/colour]

[Rosewind]

Pinkie glanced over her shoulder, her plump rump swaying back and forth. Her flank smarted from the pin lodged into the top layer of her pink coat. [colour=#ED458B]"Don't look down, Pinkie! Don't look...WHEEEEEE!" [/colour]She pushed herself off the rafter and did a midair flip, completely missing Ingrid. She smashed into the refreshment table yet again, spending punch and cake flying in every direction. She groaned, sitting up on her haunches, looking rather dazed. She shook cake out of her mane, licking frosting off her lips and face. She noticed her second tail and plucked it off her flank, giggling. She looked to Apple Bloom, offering the tail back. [colour=#ED458B]"Here ya go, silly filly! Thanks for the extra tail, but you can have it back now. One is enough, and I have hard enough time keeping track of it as it is!" [/colour]Gummy nommed on her tail tip, unphased, his own body coated in pink frosting. She flicked her tail happily, extracting herself from the wreck of the table.

[colour=#ED458B]"Humm, we're going to need more snacks and stuff! I keep wearing them today for some reason! Anypony wanna help me in the kitchen?!"[/colour] Pinkie loved other kitchens, especially ones she didn't need to clean herself.

[Mojo]

[colour=#008000][colour=#00FF00][colour=#00FF00]

[/colour][/colour][/colour]

[colour=#008000][colour=#00FF00][colour=#00FF00]"What in tarnation?" [/colour][/colour][/colour]Granny Smith shouted as she looked all around the barn at the various random scenes of chaos all around her. Then she spotted the 'tug of war' going on between a determined Haywire and a very 'buzzed' Uncle Apple Strudel. [colour=#00FF00]"Hey short stuff, whatcha tryin' to do here?"[/colour]

[colour=#B22222]"Granny Smith, mah foal friends have been drinking from this here barrel of strong cider!" [/colour]Haywire managed to shout out. [colour=#B22222]"Gotta git this away from them before they git any more of it!"[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"NEIN! NO VONE IS LEAVING VITH DIS BARREL!" [/colour]a wobbly Apple Strudel proclaimed proudly. Suddenly, his elderly sister came up with an idea.

[colour=#00FF00]"HAY STRUDEL! IT'S YODELIN' TIME!" [/colour]she yelled out.

[colour=#006400]"Wonderba!" [/colour]the bearded stallion roared as he galloped over to the middle of the room and began his very off key, very loud yodeling.

[colour=#00FF00]"Quick kido, help me roll this thing outta here!" [/colour]Granny Smith neighed as little Haywire joined her in rolling the barrel of strong cider towards the exit.

[colour=#B22222]"Jist a little bit further and we'll be out!" [/colour]the rust coloured blank flank filly announced, Haywire knew she was missing out on birthday cake and other fun, but she was more determined than ever to do what was best for her friends, many of whom were already tipsy to say the least. She hoped no pony else would try to stop them from getting rid of the stuff.

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]As Apple Bloom started wobbling her pinned tail towards Pinkie's rump, Cheerilee rested her hoof on Applejack and explained to her what she ought to do. Applejack wasn't really sure about what to do, but she knew that Cheerilee was probably the pony who knew Apple Bloom the most next to herself. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Um, ok, but..."[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack was hesitant to help lead the other foals. She wouldn't really know what to do with them. And even worse, perhaps she wasn't the best adult in the room to deal with them anyway, she certainly proved that.

Ingrid suggested ending the party. Applejack was in no way ready to do that. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "End the party? No way! We have all these presents still, and everypony having such a great time!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack pointed to the other foals, half of which were hurling in troughs and others scrambling around trying to clean the mess off of... ...everything! Applejack lowered her ears. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"How 'bout instead we just take a break from games and stuff and give everypony a rest."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Just then, Pinkie fell from her acrobatic move from the barn cieling. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Oh, um, I'd love to help you in the kitchen Pinkie. I can show you where everything is. Come on!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack walked into the kitchen with Pinkie. Fortunately, the kitchen was in pretty good condition. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Now Pinkie, I know you get excited about cookin', but..."[/colour]

​

[brianblackberry]

[colour=#800080]Cheerilee[/colour]

Cheerilee wasn’t entirely sure if Applejack would relinquish care of her little sister, but the diplomatic approached worked; all those teacher-parent conferences once again paid off. And thankfully, AJ was retreating to the kitchen, where her frazzled nerves were less likely to panic with the other little foals.[colour=#800080] “Hey, Applebloom, let’s give the other ponies a chance with the game, alright? There’ll be more game opportunities for you.”[/colour] Cheerilee hoisted Apple Bloom easily onto her neck. [colour=#800080]“First, though I think we will get you something nice and refreshing to drink, alright?”[/colour]

Cheerilee turned to Ingrid with a pleading smile, [colour=#800080]“could you perhaps watch the other foals, help them with a game? I’ll try and get Applebloom back to some semblance of normalcy, here…”[/colour] She wasn’t sure if the birthday filly was too far gone for the night yet, but it was worth a try; [colour=#800080]“could you make sure they get the barrel out, too?”[/colour] Cheerilee didn’t like having to leave somepony else to try and handle any foal related disaster, but Ingrid’s magic was much more suited to take control of the situation than anything the school mare could immediately muster.

Cheerilee trotted slowly to the back of the barn, careful not to make Applebloom uncomfortable; plenty of water and apple juice along with a banana or two would help, but sleep was really the best cure, here. Of course, Abby wasn’t the only one that needed the help. [colour=#800080]“Guiding Light, could you come with us? I think you could use some water, too.”[/colour] The colt wasn’t as bad off, but he had all the signs of having drank a little too much of the brew as well.

[colour=#ff8c00]Carrot Fields[/colour]

Carrot Fields finally got the broken wheel set just right. He knew he was missing the party, and even that he was supposed to follow his sister back in with the last of the treats she made, but he needed to get this out of the way. With Purple’s wagon fixed, he could be his little sister's hero, and he was even sure she wouldn’t lecture him about being slow with the centerpiece of her delectable treats for everypony!

Carrot brushed off some of the loose dirt from his kilt - at least it wasn’t wet out - before grabbing the cake and finally trotting towards the barn. It sure had been noisy, although he couldn’t hear exactly what was going on inside. Perhaps they were all dancing! He fantasized about the pretty mares asking him to join them, the pleasant thoughts only tempered by the concern over his own occasional klutziness; that music though… Something out of Germaney, or a nightmare, eeesh!

Carrot trotted in proudly with the cake on his back, “[colour=#ff8c00]Purple, Ah fixed yer wagon an' haur is th' cake, whaur oan th' table dae ye want me to-.[/colour]“. Carrot stopped dead, shocked at the scene before him. The buffet table was smashed, cracked right in the middle with all the food either smashed together or thrown about, including every single dish his sister had brought in. Carrot just looked stunned, his mouth agape, only his shrunken pupils moved, turning in the direction of his sister, [colour=#ff8c00]oh no… Purple![/colour]

[Rosewind]

Pinkie Pie nodding knowingly, putting her hoof to AJ's mouth as the two mares entered the kitchen. [colour=#ED458B]"Pffft! Oh Applejack, we can look past that little incident when we accidentally poisoned half of Ponyville!" [/colour]The mare hopped and bounced all over the sparkly clean kitchen. It was positively down home country homey! Even the towels had cute apples embroidered right into them. [colour=#ED458B]"Ooooooh! This is nothing like Sugarcube Corner. I mean, like, I've been here before, I don't think I've actually been here!"[/colour]

She giggled, clapping her hooves together. [colour=#ED458B]"What should we make!? Apple cobbler, apple fritters, apple pie, apple dipped apples, apple apple apple apple! Teehee! Apple is kind of a silly word, isn't it? Show me some of your down-home country cookin', so I can apple-laud you! Heeheehee! Hahaha!"[/colour] She grasped her sides, rolling over to her back as she lapsed into a fit of giggles, kicking her hooves out. She knocked over several pots, which crashed to the floor loudly. [colour=#ED458B]"Whoops! Oh, I know, let's make apple cider dumplings! MMmmmMMmmm! What do you want to make? Let's make everything! All the apples, all the time!"[/colour]

[Bramble Rose]

[colour=#0000cd]Rainbow Dash[/colour]

Rainbow Dash nodded to Rarity, starting out of the kitchen, just as a towel came flying in through the door to smack her in the face. She blinked and pulled it off, looking at it in bewilderment, then shrugged at her good fortune and trotted back to Rarity, offering it up. [colour=#0000cd]"Here ya go!"[/colour] she said merrily, wrapping the towel around Rarity's shoulders like a shawl, then flew off into the main room. She stared around at the absolute chaos, blinking in surprise ... nothing was where it had been last she'd looked! Everything was chaos! Looked like the party was going *really* awesomely!

She grabbed up the barrel from out in there, having gathered rather that they didn't want it out in the main room anymore, and carried it into the kitchen to plonk down on the counter and draw a mug for Rarity, putting it down near to her. [colour=#0000cd]"There ya go, Rare! That'll fix ya up good as new!"[/colour]

As Applejack and Pinkie Pie came in to start clattering and messing up the kitchen, Rainbow Dash edged a bit away. [colour=#0000cd]"Ah-heh... oh, hey, you guys look like you're gonna be busy. I should probably go find someplace where I won't get in your way! Not much I can do around here, right?[/colour]"

​

[colour=#800080]Sweetie Belle[/colour]

Sweetie Belle stood, confused, in the center of that chaos, as everything just kept moving on around her. There had been a stuttering attempt at singing, but that had been lost in the din as everyone went every which way. This was too much for the little filly! And now Apple Bloom was being led away from her own party, and everything was *so* confusing! Well, at least she knew where her own place was - it was with her friend! She hurried along after Miss Cheerilee and Apple Bloom and Guiding Light, hoping that somepony might tell her how to help! [colour=#800080]"Don't you worry, Apple Bloom! I'm here with you!"[/colour] She gave a hug round Apple Bloom's shoulders, looking close into her face with a worried expression. [colour=#800080] "I'll always be here for you!"[/colour]

​

[colour=#ff8c00]Purple Haze[/colour]

Purple Haze stared in absolute horror at the wreck of the snack area where she'd just finished arranging the last of her own load of snacks... she, herself, was now covered in food, her best and only party-clothes ruined, and her gift of food, the only gift she really had to give, was completely destroyed. Her stomach felt all hollow and empty, and not in the good 'I'm hungry we can eat soon' way. No, it felt like a hollowness that was stealing away all her hunger and replacing it with a sick feeling!

And then ...

and then ...

and then that mean, mean pink pony who'd done it had *LAUGHED* about it! She'd laughed about ruining Purple's precious gift of food! All that work! All that effort! Ruined! And then that pink meanie'd laughed at her! Like it was nothing! Little tears leaked out of the sides of Purple's eyes, and she gritted her teeth as she grabbed up some of the ruined food and threw it at Pinkie Pie's retreating back as she headed into the kitchen. [colour=#ff8c00]"Ye big meanie!"[/colour] she cried,[colour=#ff8c00] "This innae funny! Ye're ruining th' party!"[/colour]

She turned around to flee the scene... how could she show up at a birthday party with no gift? But then she saw it ... her big brae had saved the cake! She hurried over and gave him a grateful hug, and stifled a big sniffle into his chest. [colour=#ff8c00] "Thankee, big brae!"[/colour] she said, her voice choked[colour=#800080], [/colour][colour=#ff8c00]"Ye're th' best!" [/colour] She hurried up to setting up a barricaded new set of hay bales and sheet in the corner of the barn.[colour=#ff8c00] "Jes ye keep that cake safe, Big Brae! Oi'll nae let them ruin *this* one!"[/colour] she said, as she concentrated on setting up protective fortifications around her brother, and his precious cargo.

​

[Bellosh]

To Ingrid Marie’s relief, Applejack finally got it in her head (after some final resistance) that drastic measures needed to be employed; namely, make the foals rest up. Upon further thought, Ingrid had to confess that perhaps her initial plan to send away everypony might not have been totally feasible anyway. [colour=#008080]“Mmkay then, Applejack,”[/colour] the unicorn said to AJ; [colour=#008080]“I think I can try calming the little ones down… I think.”[/colour]

[colour=#008080]~Heh, maybe it wasn’t such a bright idea to reject that magic kindergarten teacher position all those years ago, eh Immie?~[/colour]

Ms. Marie didn’t want to acknowledge this inconvenient truth, but she had little if any experience in dealing with young foals other than those mature enough to get accepted into Celestia’s School. Nodding at Cheerilee to show that she heard her plea, Ingrid tried thinking up of a plan to pacify the disaster zone fast. The magic counselor’s thoughts dwelled on how a magic kindergarten teach would try making unruly kids take their naps… probably with magic, she guessed; it wouldn’t be called magic kindergarten otherwise. Maybe a drowsiness spell would…

[colour=#008080]“Of course!”[/colour] Ingrid shouted in epiphany towards the Apple family matriarch, ignoring the pink buffon's latest chaotic fall from the roof; [colour=#008080]“Excuse me Granny Smith; you don’t happen to have a pendulum around here, do you!? I kinda need one right now!!!”[/colour] Ingrid hoped she could be heard over Strudel's yodeling.....

[SteelEagle]

Apple Bloom wasn't a fat little filly, but she also knew she wasn't some sort of lithe little thing like Sweetie Belle was. She was the recipient of good, down home country cooking and hard work and chores that dominated her day. She wasn't fat, she wasn't packing on the muscle, but she was still a pretty healthy looking filly. So Apple Bloom didn't really understand how she was getting tossed about so casually by every adult pony that she stumbled across. One minute she was standing on her own four hooves, the next she was draped over Cheerilee's neck like a wet noodle. Well, more like a towel really, but Apple Bloom had a hankering for pasta suddenly that couldn't be explained., That hankering didn't stop her from listening to her teacher, though. Even outside of the classroom she innately listened to Cheerilee: Respect thoroughly earned. Speaking of though, Apple Bloom had always felt like she was a poor student for Cheerilee. Not smart like the other fillies and colts. These thoughts brought a somewhat dour expression to the filly's face.

[colour=#ff0000]"Yeah, thay cahn pla' allsh'games 'ey want...water sounds good..."[/colour] The spicy cider had been just that, the aftertaste thick and robbing her of her taste buds. She looked at Granny Smith and Haywire sneakin' off with the keg.

[colour=#ff0000]"Hey, y'all...make shure ta save a few for me...that's really darn good cideh..."[/colour] She continued before her mind slowly moved back to the original topic that had forced it's way up front.

[colour=#ff0000]"Ey' Miss...Char-ay-lay...yah think Ah'ma-a smart filly, raght? Ah ain't a dummy, ya know,"[/colour] Apple Bloom had started off unsure, but ended defensively. Everypony thought the little farm filly with her little farm accent and her little farm ways was some sort of illiterate ne'er do well who was lucky enough to count to ten. It wasn't right. It wasn't true! She was a smart filly. Celestia knew it, Luna knew it, but nopony else ever said so. It was enough to make a filly sad. It might even be enough, coupled with the ear splitting migraine, unsettled stomach, a jaw that still hammered with pain, and a dozen points of pain spread across to make a filly want to cry.

It was just this very thing that had started to happen, her bloodshot eyes welling up while a few tears escaped and dribbled down her cheek to dot Cheerilee's neck. She sniffled and felt her bottom lip quiver and Apple Bloom was on the verge of crying- though if she had, it was her birthday and she'd cry if she wanted to. Just then Sweetie came into frame and gave Apple Bloom a tight hug around her shoulders and said some encouraging words. That stopped her from giving Cheerilee a tear shower on her neck, thank Celestia for that.Apple Bloom was a little slow to respond but she tossed a hug somewhere on Sweetie too, though she had a feeling it was mostly just smothering her face.

[colour=#ff0000]"Yer mah best friend, Sweetie," [/colour]She half mumbled into the other's coat. Of course, being draped over Cheerilee's neck and then being hugged around the shoulders by her friend meant that she was getting pulled off of Cheerilee. It happened slowly during the embrace and Apple Bloom didn't realize that anything was ahoof before she was dropping to the ground like a lead weight. She slammed into the ground face first, her snout digging deep into a small hole in the barn floor. She panicked and pressed all four hooves hard against the floor, pushing up. Finally her snout was released and she went flying back onto her tush, the snout elongated like an ant-eater for a few seconds. She shook her head, clearing it all up though her wobbly head and eyes paid the price for a few seconds. It didn't hurt that much, if only because her reaction was delayed. Her eyes wandered the space for a moment until she spotted something delicious: The cake that Carrot and Purple had just saved. Apple Bloom stood up quickly- almost too quickly, as her staggering told everypony- and trotted over. Well, sort of trotted. It was the sort of trot you'd see on a sinking ship. But the point was that it was a thing. Apple Bloom found the cake and pawed at it, though she was still too far away to touch it. Depth perception was a thing- like trotting on a sinking ship!

[colour=#ff0000]"This'hars one heck of a cake, Purple," [/colour]She blasted out loudly as her front hooves started searching the ground for a place to sit and hopefully not be tossed around anymore. She slowly sat on the ground, falling the past few inches and fighting to stay upright. Victory was hers- and hopefully life would just get better, with water from her lovely teacher, hugs and love from friends and family, and cake. And gifts. And some entertainment!

[colour=#ff0000]"Who's gonna play pinthatail on tha poneh next?"[/colour] She asked nopony in particular.

[Lux]

Guiding Light after a few minutes in agony moved away from the now desecrated punch bowl. He felt better, but still not his usual self. As he turned back to the area he was seeing what looked like a mass circus! Apple Bloom was saying something about pinning a tail on a pony, Sweetie Belle was getting hugged, an older pony was yodeling, and some adult ponies were rushing around. It was so chaotic that the colt felt that he had to be imagining things.

[colour=#DAA520]"If this is the cider making all these things happen, I don't want it!" [/colour]

Light then heard the kindly tone of his teacher break through the madness. Miss Cheerilee asked him to follow her for some water. He wasn't sure how water was going to help him as he aleeady has a wet towel on his head, but he knew his teacher was smart.

[colour=#DAA520]"Sure thing, Miss Cheerilee. I'll get the water." [/colour]

[RarityDash]

Suddenly Rarity was met with another random towel to the face courtesy this time of Cheerilee. Before she had a chance to use said towel, Dash took it and wrapped it around her. Dash then went off to the other room and retrieved the barrel of the "other" cider. Rarity found a gentle smile; the pegasus was really being good to tend to her strange whims. It was nice. Some of the tension disappeared as Rarity wiped herself down with the towel and then took the mug of cider the pegasus poured for her.

[colour=#663399]"Thank you, Rainbow,"[/colour] she said in an affected tone as she started to sip her cider quietly. The taste was very robust and warming. It was quite good, though the potency was very apparent; this certainly wasn't anything foals should be drinking. It went down quickly and it immediately helped Rarity start to reach a calm. She noticed Applejack and Pinkie were nearby and looked to be preparing to cook something. Dash's eyes went to them as well.

​

[colour=#0000CD]"Ah-heh... oh, hey, you guys look like you're gonna be busy. I should probably go find someplace where I won't get in your way! Not much I can do around here, right?[/colour]"

Rarity snickered at the rainbow-maned mare looked prepared to bolt. She wasn't going to allow that. She stepped forward and shook her head, pulling the other pony back with her magic. [colour=#663399]"Nonsense, Rainbow darling, we should see if we might be of help to them!"[/colour] she suggested with a cheerful nod.

Bringing the pegasus along, Rarity approached the two earth mares eagerly. [colour=#663399]"Hello Pinkie, AJ! Baking are we? Rainbow and I would be just delighted to pitch in and make sure everything turns out just fabulous!" [/colour] the unicorn mare announced.

​

[brianblackberry]

[colour=#800080]Cheerilee[/colour]

Cheerilee was a bit surprised by the question that the little yellow filly draped across her shoulders asked in such a quavering voice, and could feel Apple Bloom’s body shake with the tears. [colour=#800080]“Applebloom, you and your crusader friends are a smart, innovative, resourceful trio; you always impress me with your imagination and cleverness, not to mention your kindness. I am proud to have you all in my class.” [/colour] Cheerilee hoped that helped - truth was, Applebloom was an average student – not that she lacked smarts, but she just didn’t always apply herself very well, and got easily distracted by her friends and their cutie mark crusade. But this was certainly not the time to give the Apple filly a full critique.

Speaking of her friends, Cheerilee really admired how close the CMC were – so much closer than any friends she grew up with when she was their age. Sweetie’s dedication warmed Cheerilee’s heart, but it actually made things more complicated, when her well-meaning gesture accidentally pulled the inebriated Applebloom down from Cheerilee’s back.

[colour=#800080]“Sweetie, wait!”[/colour] It was too late and the tipsy earth pony was again walking aimlessly in a stupor. Cheerilee sighed; it was time for a more direct, forceful approach. She gestured towards one of the back rooms,[colour=#800080] “Sweetie Belle, dear, could you get some water and meet us back there? Guiding Light? Just … follow me.”[/colour] Cheerilee went up to the pawing Abby and sighed,[colour=#800080] “Sorry about this, but we need to get you hydrated, stat.”[/colour] With that, she grabbed Abby’s tail with her teeth and walked backwards, pulling her along. Cheerilee was going to salvage this situation no matter what!

[colour=#ff8c00]Carrot Fields[/colour]

Carrot wanted to give that pink mare a piece of his mind! He was so upset, he even wanted to give Applejack a piece of his mind over what happened. The pink earth pony probably didn’t mean her laugh in a mean fashion, but Purple Haze was so devastated and it didn’t seem anypony else cared; this was his baby sister! Well, he would just have to care that much more.

Carrot gave Purple a strong, reassuring hug as she buried her face in his chest,[colour=#ff8c00] “Oi’m sorry Purple”[/colour]. It sounded odd for him to apologize, saving the centerpiece, but somepony had to. Guarding the cake might be a silly assignment to anypony else, but he wasn’t going to let her down. He glanced around the chaos in the barn. Perhaps not all that silly, at that… Carrot smiled back at purple as she gathered the bales, and he very carefully slid the plate off his back unto a small table, [colour=#ff8c00]“Nae pony is ginnae tooch thes until yoo’re ready tae present it tae th' birthday filly, Oi promise!”[/colour]

[Rosewind]

Pinkie Pie glanced over her shoulder, her mane poofing out happily. She hopped up and down excitedly, knocking a rolling pin with her flank to the floor. [colour=#ED458B]"Ooh yes! YES! What a great fantastically awesomest idea, Rarity! I'd love to bake Dashie and you! I mean...bake with Dashie and you. Heehee, I don't think she'd like that very much, huh?" [/colour]She trotted over and nudged Rainbow in her side, winking. [colour=#ED458B]"This is SO awesome! Baking with friends has got to be the best thing EVER!" [/colour]Pinkie happily grabbed some flour and tossed it over her head. [colour=#ED458B]"Teehee, flourfetti!" [/colour]

[colour=#ED458B]"Oh my, we have so many helping hooves now! WE CAN DO LOTS! AJ and I should get apples ready for the cake, Dashie you can mix it all up with your super-duper wing power, Rarity you can use your fashioness to decorate it all pretty, and we can all haul it out together to surprise Apple Bloom! Do we have candles? We need candles! LOTS AND LOTS! Apples, flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla, butter! Where is it, Applejack!? We have to start the fun this very instant!"[/colour] Pinkie clapped her hooves together as she jumped up and down, her wild curly mane flaring and spinning. Gummy stayed latched on for dear life -- he was somewhat camoulflaged from his previous coating of frosting, and he was only indicated as being present by his two lavender gumdrop eyes. [colour=#ED458B]"Spoons! Bowls! Fun! Yesss! Let's go everypony! Let's bake a cake!" [/colour]Pinkie Pie nearly crashed against the ceiling. She grinned, pulling everypony into a big group hug.[colour=#ED458B]"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"[/colour]

[Davroth]

Without noticing in the slightest, the nurse in training had crawled under a table and fell asleep. It was only a quick nap, but her head was still spinning. Something about that cider wasn't right. She almost stumbled as she made her way towards the other party guests. The world slightly turned from side to side, but she managed to stay on her hooves.

She thought at least that those were ponies. Her view was still a little hazy, and she tried to remember what could possible cause the symptoms she was displaying. It was surely something harmful, if it had such a strong effect on her. She finally reached the pastel coloured blobs, who, most likely, were the other party guests. She sat back on her rump for a moment and then got back up. She cleared her throat in an attempt to get everyone's attention.

[colour=#dda0dd]"Attenshn e-eerypony. I shink someshing is wr-rong wif'.... c-cider."[/colour] She almost fell over as she tried to form a coherent sentence. Then she remembered, at least partially, what she had observed while volunteering in the hospital. [colour=#dda0dd]"We sh... should conshult a doctor and stay over.. stay overnight for obse... obshervashtion."[/colour]

And with that, her legs folded in and she sat down on the ground, her eyes flickering shut. She had warned them. She had done her best.

[Mojo]

[colour=#008000][colour=#00FF00][colour=#00FF00]

[/colour][/colour][/colour]

[colour=#008000][colour=#00FF00][colour=#00FF00]"What? Oh a PENDULUM!" [/colour][/colour][/colour]Granny Smith answered Ingrid Marie, stopping long enough to point up to a cookoo clock up on the wall. [colour=#00FF00]"That thar clock's got one, help yurself to it!"[/colour]

[colour=#B22222]"Granny!" [/colour]Haywire shouted, [colour=#B22222]"please help me git this barrel outside before..."[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"Stop right dere, little fraulien!" [/colour]Uncle Apple Strudel roared as he bolted towards the rust coloured filly.

[colour=#00FF00]"Not so fast, brother!" [/colour]Granny Smith shouted before she turned up a smile on her face. [colour=#00FF00]"It's tuba time!"[/colour]

[colour=#006400]"Javol!" [/colour]the drunken elderly stallion shouted as he staggered off to find his tuba to play.

[colour=#00FF00]"That'll buy some more time, kido, let's git movin' agin'!"[/colour]

[colour=#B22222]"Yes ma'am." [/colour]Haywire spoke as the two ponies rolled the barrel of 'bad' cider out the door and into the yard.

[Lux]

Guiding Light followed his teacher towards the kitchen. Well, following might not be the best way to describe it. It was more like swaying back and forth, crashing into things as he went and even tripping over his own hooves. Besides his body acting wierd, his mind was fuzzy too. The whole place was strange around him, making him not able to comprehend. He was so unsure of things that he accidentally bumped into a pony nearby. Although things were blurry, he could tell it was a pony his age and white. Hearing Cheerilee's request, he believed it to be Sweetie Belle.

[colour=#DAA520]"Oh shorry there, Shweetie Belle. I didn't want to meet you like thish. But now that I did, do you think i'm a nice pony?"[/colour]

[SteelEagle]

It took a few seconds for Apple Bloom to realize what was happening- AGAIN! It was becoming a running theme. If she were more able to control her emotions, it would start to make her angry. Instead, confusion as the cake got further and further away like a beacon in the mountains to an airship in rough weather. All good things must come to an end or, in the case of the giant lovely cake that had survived the chaos so far, never began. Apple Bloom stretched out as far as her little hooves could stretch but it was no use. The cake was gone and may as well have never existed. Why was her party starting to go from a nice fun party of fun and nice party hats to the torture of a little filly by throwing her about the room. She couldn't fight Cheerilee. She couldn't even get he back legs to move unless her front legs moved too. And she wasn't in the mood.

Then she heard Nursery Rhyme say something about observation and overnight and the cider being wrong and all Apple Bloom got out of that was that in order to go to the doctor, they'd need to stop the party. With that, little Apple Bloom perked up in fear.

[colour=#ff0000]"N-naw! Nawt- tha party- no one stop tha party! Ah's havin' fun, playing games, openin' presents, eatin' cake, and than all'f sudden mah sister bangs me aside tha head, Ingrid's tryin' ta shut me down, Miss Cheerilee's treatin' me like Ah'm a delinquent,"[/colour] She tossed a hoof towards Granny right as she left, [colour=#ff0000]"yah'll takin mah cider," [/colour]at Strudel, [colour=#ff0000]"hangin' round like ah monkey," [/colour]at Purple, [colour=#ff0000]"preparin' cake",[/colour] tossed hooves at those leaving for the kitchen, [colour=#ff0000]"bakin' cake"[/colour], at Ingrid, [colour=#ff0000]"usin' magic"[/colour], at Guiding Light, [colour=#ff0000]"hittin' on Sweetie Belle,"[/colour] at Haywire as she left, [colour=#ff0000]"probably blowin' something up,"[/colour] at Carrot Fields, [colour=#ff0000]"talkin' funny,"[/colour] at Nursery Rhyme, [colour=#ff0000]"takin' naps"[/colour], and finally at Sweetie Belle, [colour=#ff0000]"and yer a unicorn!"[/colour]

She rubbed her face with her hooves.

[colour=#ff0000]"Ah'm so confuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuused!"[/colour]

[Bellosh]

On Granny Smith’s recommendation, Ingrid Marie walked up to an old antique cuckoo clock on the wall. As anypony might have guessed concerning Apple family heirlooms, the clock’s pendulum was formed in the shape of a red delicious apple. Gently ripping the pendulum from its pivot with telekinesis, Ingrid took the object in her hoof and carefully inspected it for a brief moment.

[colour=#008080]~Just a little magic touch or two, and this baby will be ready to go!~[/colour]

Summoning forth a burst of magical energy, Ingrid blasted the apple pendulum with a spell for a few strainful seconds. The end result of the beige unicorn’s hoofiwork induced the appearance of a moving, teal-coloured hypnotic spiral of magic on the pendulum… just what the doctor ordered! Now, all that needed to be done was to test the new magically-improved pendulum.

Observing Cheerilee dragging off Apple Bloom somewhere by the muzzle, Ms. Marie decided to experiment on the birthday filly first to make sure the pendulum worked as intended. [colour=#008080]“Cheerilee! Hold up a sec!”[/colour] the magic counselor shouted as she galloped over to her figurative partner in crime, levitating the pendulum in the air; [colour=#008080]“I think I’ve got something that’ll allow the foals to rest up. Mind if I use this pendulum on Apple Bloom first?”[/colour] Ingrid hoped the schoolteacher approved of her plan; Abby was now starting to get cranky.....

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]Pinkie was all over the place. Up, down, in, out, sideways. She couldn't tell if the pink mare was really looking for stuff or just really excited, or both. Well, this was Pinkie, anyways. Applejack also acknowledged Rarity and Rainbow Dash, whereas it looked like Rarity had spent her entire time trying to clean all the pastry mess off her pelt and mane, and Rainbow Dash was being a nice filly and helping her. The two were not in Pinkie or Applejack's way, unless you took into account Pinkie's random trajectory around the room. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Yeah, you can help us out."[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Applejack stared at Rarity for a moment. Something was different about her. And not like Applejack would care to notice, it was just strange to see Rarity in such a different light, the light in which being covered in sauce and cake frosting was inevitable, and also in this case, edible, too! Applejack gave Rarity a strange awkward sniff. Something smelled on her, and it was sweet. She looked behind one of Rarity's ears to which she had some cake frosting left over from her collision with the birthday centerpiece. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Oh, Rarity, you got somethin', um, here let me get it for you."[/colour][colour=#000000] Without even thinking too much about it, Applejack licked behind Rarity's ear and consumed all of the cake frosting that was hid behind there. Her tongue brushed against Rarity's poll and scalp, as Applejack graces the small territory of Rarity's head for a tasty mess. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "There!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack smacked her lips, but then realized her gesture. What a semi-odd thing for her to do to Rarity. If it was Apple Bloom or Big Mac, the context of family would have never even questioned it. Perhaps she was just socially confused for a moment and took Rarity more personal because she was in the Apple kitchen. Or maybe Applejack's relationship with Rarity was really just that close. Applejack couldn't be sure. With the first risings of embarrassment shielding over Applejack's face, she decided to change the subject.[/colour]

[colour=#ff0000]"Oh yes, Pinkie, everything we need for a cake should be in that pantry door right there, except eggs. We'll need to get eggs from the chicken coop, probably a couple dozen."[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack turned to the blue pegasus, [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Rainbow, would you like to get the eggs for us?"[/colour]

​

[brianblackberry]

Cheerilee felt pretty bad for the little yellow Apple filly, this was supposed to be Applebloom's night after all. Instead, here she was inebriated and being pulled to the back room to be sobered up and the little filly probably didn't even know why. As Cheerilee pulled Applebloom sputtered incoherently in an upset tone, [colour=#800080]"its alright Applebloom, just need you to relax and drink for a few minutes"[/colour]. Well that wasn't entirely true, given Abby's condition it was much more likely to be a few hours, if not all night, before she was fine again. What else could Cheerilee do though?

At that moment Ingrid stepped and ask if she could try something first; something about a pendulum. Cheerilee didn't understand what a pendulum could possibly do for the Apple filly, but it could be simply that the ins and outs of unicorn magic were beyond her knowledge; besides it was very unlikely the Apple cousin wanted to risk anything harmful to Abby. Cheerilee let Abby's tail and sat just behind the filly. [colour=#800080]"Well... If it you really think it's going to help." [/colour]Curiously drove Cheerilee as much as her concern for Applebloom, how was this going to work? If it did though, perhaps the party could be saved after all.

[Lux]

Before Guiding light received an answer to his question about whether or not Sweetie Belle thought he was nice, Apple Bloom went into a tantrum about things that were happening at her party that seemed very confusing for the filly and out of place with the other festivities. Then the filly said it:

[colour=#FF0000]"Hittin' on Sweetie Belle."[/colour]

The colt's face turned as red as Apple Bloom's mane when she uttered those words. There was no denying that it was directed towards him and the unicorn was the only one speaking to the white filly at the time. Part of him was embarrassed that Apple Bloom basically said it loud enough so that anypony within earshot would hear. But there was the other reason that he was embarrassed, although he wouldn't outright admit it. Deep down he liked Sweetie Belle and wanted to be her friend although he often lacked the courage to talk to her.

[colour=#DAA520]"All I wanted to know was if Sweetie Belle likes me," [/colour]he said to no pony in particular, [colour=#DAA520]"I'm just trying to be her friend." [/colour]

[Bramble Rose]

[colour=#0000cd]Rainbow Dash[/colour]

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened a little bit as Rarity 'volunteered' her. What did Dash know about cooking?! But she nodded her head vigorously. Sure! How hard could it be? She was awesome at everything else, after all! [colour=#0000cd] "Yeah! Let's make some... uh ... " [/colour]She picked up a couple of the fallen pots and banged them down on the counter enthusiastically with a reverberant *BONG*. Dumplings?! Sure! [colour=#0000cd]"Yeah, dumplings! I'll get the oil heating up!"[/colour] She slid the pot over onto the stove, and turned it on high, then found a bottle of cooking oil and started filling up the pot. *glug glug glug glug*

[colour=#0000cd]"And anything you need mixed, I'll mix it up faster than anyone!"[/colour] She picked up the rolling pin and put it on the counter, then pulled out a sharp knife from the rack of them, holding it in her teeth as she said around it, [colour=#0000cd]"Need some apples cut up? I'll cut 'em all lickity split!"[/colour] she said, still a slightly wild-eyed expression at all the giant vast *unknown* of cooking ahead of her.

She blinked as Applejack licked at Rarity's ear that way. Rarity hadn't seemed to like it when Dash had done the same... [colour=#0000cd]"I don't think you should do that, Applejack,"[/colour] she said round the handle of the big cutting knife, warningly. If Rarity was feeling too dirty, she might get all cranky, and no one wanted that! Dash turned her head to stab the knife into the counter. [colour=#0000cd] "But yeah, I can get some eggs for you!"[/colour] She trotted out the door quickly. Gathering eggs sounded easy enough, right?

​

[colour=#800080]Sweetie Belle[/colour]

Sweetie blinked as Apple Bloom very nearly fell over onto her, and helped support her friend carefully, then blinked as Guiding Light leaned a little too close to them. She cautiously lifted a hoof to pat at his shoulder. [colour=#800080] "Why, of *course* I like you!"[/colour] she squeaked softly, [colour=#800080]"You're-"[/colour] but whatever he was, he wouldn't find out just then, cause Apple Bloom interrupted with a tirade of ... Sweetie wasn't sure. It was all very confusing.

She gave her friend a little hug. [colour=#800080] "Of course I'm a unicorn,"[/colour] she said carefully, unsure how to go about this. [colour=#800080] "And I'm sure everypony is just tryin' to help. In their own way."[/colour] She rubbed her cheek against Apple Bloom's in a little fond gesture. [colour=#800080]"you're my *best* friend! Well, you and Scootaloo, anyway"[/colour] she said, her voice cracking as she tried to reassure Apple Bloom, [colour=#800080]"And no matter what, I'm going to make *sure* you have a party! The best party I can make sure you have! Cause you're *special*!"[/colour]

​

[colour=#ff8c00]Purple Haze[/colour]

Purple carefully watched as her big brae prepared himself to protect the cake, and gave him a little hug, then busied herself building up the hay bale walls higher, before stretching a messy tablecloth over the top of it as a trampoline to repel any more falling ponies from the rafters. She stepped back to regard her creation and nodded in satisfaction.

[colour=#ff8c00]"All right! Now ..."[/colour] She looked out over the party. [colour=#ff8c00]"Whoo... Aye, looks like a party from back home all right, big brae! Except they dinnae ruin th' food. And there was better music. Too bad ye dinnae bring yer bagpipes, ye could show 'em a roit bonnie hoof-liftin' tune!"[/colour] She kicked her hooves up in an enthusiastic jig for a few seconds.

She frowned, watching the chaos churning around them, trying to determine what game this was they were playing. She certainly didn't recognize it! Ponies were staggering around everywhere, like they'd been spun for pin-the-tail-on-the-pony ... but EVERYPONY was staggering. Or most of them, anyway. She couldn't figure out any rules at all for this. [colour=#ff8c00] "Oi jes' dinnae unnerstand what they're doin', though,"[/colour] she murmured a bit sadly, suddenly feeling very much an outsider.

​