//------------------------------// // Chapter XVI // Story: Family Trip // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Fluttershy I sat quietly at the lunch table, squashed between a very rambunctious Rainbow and Lightning Dust. I originally was scared of Lightning but well she seems nice. Or well, as nice as she can be. “You guys ready for Halloween?” Rainbow asked eagerly as she tossed a tater tot into her mouth. “Ah am. Got mah costume and everything set up,” Applejack said as she stirred her apple sauce with a spoon and dumped a brown powder in it. I gave her a confused look as Indigo glanced over. “Cinnamon. Ah like it in mah apple sauce.” “Alright girls,” Rainbow said and slammed a hand on the table as we all looked. “Sunset’s birthday is in two days.” Pinkie gave a exaggerated gasp as I mentally prepared for the screaming to start. “Oh my frosted cupcakes!” Pinkie screamed and the cafeteria fell silent, everyone looking at us as I felt my face burning. After a few moments, the other students shrugged and went back to their conclusions. “Alright Pinkie is obviously planning it,” Rainbow said as I looked around shyly. The only few people missing were Lyra, Lightning and Trixie. “Take it away Pinks.” “Alright,” Pinkie said seriously and pulled a list out of her hair. “Applejack, myself, Bon Bon and Derpy will do the baking. Sunset likes strawberry flavored products. I’m thinking a strawberry cake decorated in her hair color.” “Ya got it.” “Okay,” Bon Bon said and bit into a tomato. “Will do!” Derpy announced with a giggle. “Rarity and Octavia are in charge of decorations along with Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare. Trixie, Rainbow, Lavender and Fluttershy are in charge of keeping her distracted from the gym while we decorate.” “She won’t get past me!” Rainbow said proudly as I nodded. “Yay,” I said softly. “Lightning Dust, Lyra, Vinyl, Sugarcoat and Sour Sweet are in charge of music. Cheerilee and Berry Punch are going to be helping as well. Indigo Zap and Twilight are in charge of putting all the gifts in the corner and setting up tables with Cherry Berry, Minuette and Ruby Pinch. Got it?” Pinkie asked and we all nodded. “You got it,” Indigo commented with a smug grin and tossed a salute her way. “You’ve thought this out.” “Parties are serious,” Pinkie said sternly as we all fell silent again. “Wait what about about Watermelody?” Lavender asked as she held her head up with one hand, a bottle of grape juice held in the other. “What is she doing?” “I don’t think it’s entirely appropriate inviting me to a party where I don’t entirely know the person, Lav,” Watermelody explained as she looked up from her art book. “Agreed darling.” “Anyway, we also have Ruby’s birthday next week to we are going to. Berry Punch and Minuette are planning it with Pinkie,” Rainbow said as Pinkie nodded eagerly. “Everyone know what they are doing?” Twilight asked as she adjusted her glasses. “Any deviation from our set goals could lead to miscommunication and potentially failure.” “Yeah yeah we got it egghead,” Indigo scoffed as she smiled at Twilight. “You can count on us.” “Be nice Indy!” Sour Sweet snapped as Twilight giggled. “I find her egg head side absolutely adorable but it won’t get her a boyfriend.” “It might!” Twilight protested weakly. “There was the thing with Timber.” “Which lasted about two weeks till he got arrested for dating you, remember dearie?” Sunny Flare asked casually. “It will come to you, don’t worry.” “Sunset’s coming!” Vinyl hissed and jerked her head to the left. Sunset was walking up with Lyra, Lightning and Trixie. We had gotten the three to distract her while we “formulated a plot” according to Sugarcoat. “Hey girls,” Sunset said and sat down next to Derpy and Pinkie. “What we miss?” “Nothing,” Rainbow said and bit into an apple. “Nothing at all.” “Okay.” “The Great and Humble Trixieeeee has arrived!” Trixie announced as she flung an arm out and sat next to Watermelody. I never really expected Trixie of all people to get a girlfriend or boyfriend but I was happy for her. The two did seem similar, both behind performers. Watermelody did drama with Sunny Flare and Trixie did magic with Lavender Lace, Fuchsia Blush and Sunset occasionally taking part to help out in the shows. “Hello dear,” Watermelody smiled with a blush and I smiled faintly. As long as they were happy, I suppose I was happy too. Not really my business who dates who or who’s sleeping with who. “So you lookin forward to Ruby’s birthday?” Rainbow asked with a mouthful of food as Rarity and I gagged. Sunny gave her a disgusted look before looking away. “Yeah,” Sunset said fondly. “I would invite you all but it’s only a small thing. And I appreciate you girls understanding I don’t wanna do anything big for my birthday. Never really did anything too crazy before for it so why start now, right?” Rainbow and Lyra gave each other smirks as they nodded. “Yeah of course,” Lyra said coolly. “I’ve only done big things on my birthday once and that was when I turned sixteen. So about two years ago.” “There was your seventeenth birthday I went to with Octavia, Vinyl and Derpy,” Bon Bon pointed out with a frown. “That was a pretty big one.” I didn’t really like doing big things either for my birthday. It used to be only Rainbow, my parents and my brother. That was it. Then Applejack. Then Rarity. Then Pinkie Pie and that was it. “I mean, we still give her gifts right?” Vinyl asked as she yawned. “Ruby I mean.” “Yeah sure.” Applejack reached into her backpack and slid a cd across the table with a card. Sunset picked it up and examined it curiously. “It’s for her from all of us,” Applejack explained. “It has us doing covers of various Thomas songs. Skip track five though.” “Why?” “Don’t skip it!” Rainbow snapped and glared at Applejack as I hid my face. “It’s fine for everyone!” “Ya said it was childish and that ya were gonna make your own song. You say and ah quote, trains be the coolest shit yo and that’s just the first chorus.” “Okay yeah definitely telling my aunts,” Sunset said casually as she put the cd and envelope in her bag. “I’ll tell Ruby it’s from you all. Thank you.” Applejack tipped her hat slightly and went back to apple sauce. Thank the lord today was almost over. I want to visit my animals at the shelter. Oh and do what Pinkie needs done.