Dinky's 10th Birthday

[Derpy]

At last! For many year, my daughter Dinky have fret about this day. Why for? Who knows. Now is finally turn ten! And big birthday. SOOOO many guests! Sooo many nerves! SOoo much funs! Only problem is... not finish. Ohh, well. Can imagine that end as well as began. (n.c)

[Derpy]

Sugarcube Corner(#191RA)
* ^ * ^ * ^ --- SUGARCUBE CORNER --- ^ * ^ * ^ *

Located in the heart of Ponyville, this tasty-looking establishment is the town's patisserie, or bakery-confectionary. It boasts a gingerbread-patterned roof, a cupcake-shaped turret, and striped poles reminiscent of candy canes. The color scheme is pink, brown, cream and white, the architecture flaring. A sign hanging over the street depicts a pink-frosted cupcake.
Sugarcube Corner is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and houses their employee, Pinkie Pie. The first floor is taken up by a colorful storefront and an almost as colorful kitchen and dining room. The shop sells cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and a variety of other sweet treats, and the dining room provides space for Pinkie's frequent parties. There is a taffy puller in back.
The upper floors are where Pinkie lives, along with her baby pet alligator, Gummy. Pinkie's quarters are more austere, featuring wooden walls and a fireplace, but she's more than capable of sprucing them up, should festivities call for it. The upper turret is her bathroom, a round room done up in warm beiges and pink accents.

[ Exits: <B>ack to the Market(#193E) ]
[ Sleepers: Lightning_Flash(#1035PBC), Othershy(#651PBC) ]
[ Contents: Ribbons and Bows(#736), Skymaster set(#925), Cupcake ATM(#717) ]

PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie says, "And why shouldn't she be? Her daughter is in a Turkish prison. ._. Who wouldn't be proud?"
PUB >> Derpy says, "...Turkish prion? u.n"
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie hopes she was convincing in that. She does not like to lie.
PUB >> Derpy says, "But lie in repose all the times!"
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie means the prevarication sort.
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie is as honest as Miss Applejack. ._.
PUB >> Derpy grateful for any verification, prion or otherwise.
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie says, ""Lies make Baby Nyarlothotep cry."
PUB >> Derpy says, "But if my daughter gone, ~I~ cry! Where is Dinky?!"
PUB >> Maplewing says, "So, how is everypony?"
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie oh, dear. ._. She becomes shifty eyed. ._. ._. ._.
PUB >> From the heavens, Princess Luna says, "Also saffron. Saffron makes the Baby Nyarlotho- thou are referring to Solar Eclipse, aren't thee?"
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie says, "No, your highness. Though the comparison is apt. But honesty is always the best policy."
PUB >> Derpy is lonely in Sugarcube Corner! Was expecting party! But instead, is empty Corner with half-festoon. u.u
PUB >> From the heavens, Princess Luna for official reasons cannot show up until the party is already in swing and both Dinky and Nettleglum are there.
PUB >> Barnacle-encrusted Nettie can fully festoon any location, dear. I will be there shortly.

Solar_Eclipse has arrived.
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse blows a noisemaker. HOOOONK

Derpy LEAPS!

<OOC> Derpy says, "Hello Solarium! Let me append roomdesc."

Sugarcube Corner(#191RA)
* ^ * ^ * ^ --- SUGARCUBE CORNER --- ^ * ^ * ^ *

Located in the heart of Ponyville, this tasty-looking establishment is the town's patisserie, or bakery-confectionary. It boasts a gingerbread-patterned roof, a cupcake-shaped turret, and striped poles reminiscent of candy canes. The color scheme is pink, brown, cream and white, the architecture flaring. A sign hanging over the street depicts a pink-frosted cupcake.
Sugarcube Corner is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and houses their employee, Pinkie Pie. The first floor is taken up by a colorful storefront and an almost as colorful kitchen and dining room. The shop sells cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and a variety of other sweet treats, and the dining room provides space for Pinkie's frequent parties. There is a taffy puller in back.
The upper floors are where Pinkie lives, along with her baby pet alligator, Gummy. Pinkie's quarters are more austere, featuring wooden walls and a fireplace, but she's more than capable of sprucing them up, should festivities call for it. The upper turret is her bathroom, a round room done up in warm beiges and pink accents.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, Sugarcube Corner is bursting with festivity! Ribbons in lavender, mauve and pink entwine in ruffled clumps from point to point on the ceiling and high pieces of furniture. Lots of similarly colored balloons are filled with helium and tied to cooking racks, tables, the trusty taffy puller, and so on. There are even more bowls of candy set out than usual, and they appear to be free! The back room is set up with loads of fun-looking games and activities, such as a beanbag toss, a slip and slude covered in something that doesn't look like water, and dangling from a hook in the center of the room, a malformed pinata. What kind of creature is this pinata? It's simply impossible to say.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[ Exits: <B>ack to the Market(#193E) ]
[ Players: Solar_Eclipse(#650PBC) ]
[ Contents: Ribbons and Bows(#736), Skymaster set(#925), Cupcake ATM(#717) ]

<OOC> Derpy says, "Done!"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse grins
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse looks and YAYS!
<OOC> Derpy says, "Now then. WHERE IS DINKY!!? Is her big day!"

BlueFeather has arrived.

Derpy shouts "Birthday party for Dinky about to begin! Want to attend? Come to Sugarcube Corner!!" (Public-shout)

<OOC> Derpy says, "Hello Bluefeath!"

Nettleglum has arrived.
Thunderlane has arrived.

<OOC> Nettleglum will also spoof Shutterbug in attendance.

Maplewing has arrived.

It's the big day at last! Derpy is puttering around Sugarcube Corner, a blend of nerves and laughter without outlet. Her tail is tied with shiny green and silver ribbons, but that doesn't stop it from twirling around and round and round every so often, much like another part of her anatomy. She has a garish sheer paisley dress on, whose peacock feather eyes almost seem to wink as she shuffles and speeds about. She's putting the final touches on the decorations and food, and eying the door every time she sees someone walk by.

Thunderlane may not be terribly familiar with little Dinky, but he knows her mother - what pony, but especially a pegasus, wouldn't? The dark-pelted stallion makes his way through the door with a gold and rose striped gift bag held in his teeth. It seems to take him a minute to adjust to the brilliant clashes of color but he's soon shooting a grin around the bag's handles towards the whizzing, wild-eyed mare before making his way to deposit the gift in the designated spot.

Spike has arrived.

And in walks Eclipse. He's come in from the kitchen, even though there's not really an exit outside from there. Also he's walking on the ceiling, upside down and all. He has a present floating behind him. "Hi!" he greets cheerfully, smiling brightly.

Match_Maker has arrived.

Derpy looks between Thunderlane and Eclipse, and an obvious discrepancy there leads the poor mother to panic. She leaps onto the ceiling and walks along it, beating her wings furious to keep from falling. "Hello afternoon, Prince Eclair!" she greets. But then she sees Thunderlane again and her eyes revolve. She lets herself tumble to the floor and walks over to greet him. "Hello Thunderlife! Welcome to party!" But then she eyes Eclipse again and goggles further.

<OOC> Match_Maker waits until she knwos what'sgoingno!
<OOC> Derpy says, "Fair enough! Derpy dreams of getting there someday."
<OOC> Match_Maker herps the Derp.
<OOC> BlueFeather chuckles, looks for a good spot to crash the party, she was kinda told shes not wanted at the party after all
<OOC> Derpy says, "Was she?"

Twilight_Sparkle has arrived.

<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle peeks in.
<OOC> BlueFeather says, "Yes"

Shutterbug is the next to wander in, looking a little unnerved by the overdone decorations, his camera slung around his neck on the strap. He, too, carries a gift on his back, somewhat sloppily wrapped but sincere for all that. The foal is so distracted he walks under Eclipse without noticing his best friend fly-walking, to drop the gift off on the table with the others...

Match_Maker trots in, squeezing through the doorframe in her natural form. Despite being a changeling, she knows what hatching-days are! She's got a small package clutched in her fangs, and she looks rather ridiculous in that TINY little party hat. "AHW EERD AT INKY AD RTY!" she says cheerfully... A random filly (probably Apple Bloom) trips and falls against a record player, causing a vinyl scratch.

Thunderlane grins up towards Derpy with a lazy grin once he's deposited the gift. "Heya Derp." He stopped trying to correct her about his name a long time ago. "Got everything set up or you need a hoof?" His eyes are drawn up towards the sticky-hoofed Prince pulling a grand gecko imitation. "Huh. Pretty awesome trick there." He remarks as he pops a couple pieces of candy into his maw, crunching and then nearly choking on it as his eyes widen and fall on Match Maker. Whatinthehay?

Shutterbug screeches like a small filly at the sight of the horrible blood-sucking bugpony. He dives under the table with the gifts.

EconomistBrony puts a couple of bits into the Cupcake ATM and pushes the button for a muffin cupcake. There is nothing for a few moments, then a section of the black behind the glass slides open like a panel. A light blue eye surrounded by pink is seen, which looks around before focusing on EconomistBrony. The panel shuts and soon there comes whirring and sucking noises, though they sound like somepony is just making them, as well as the 'ding' that follows. Then the back of the inset shelf slides open, and a pink hoof juts out handing EconomistBrony a muffin cupcake! The hoof withdraws and the opening slams back closed with a giggle.

<OOC> Nettleglum made several deposits earlier. ._.

Solar_Eclipse grins back to Derpy "Hi!" he greets her as she goes to the ceiling. He eventually does hop down and land on his hooves, sliding the gift up on what he figures is the Gift Table. "Looks great!" he says about the overdone decorations. "Where's Dinky?" As Shutter comes in, he waves, then looks over to see the Changling and his brow furrows a little but he doesn't really say anything else.

BlueFeather might make an odd counterpoint to Matchmaker, jumping up to perch atop of Match's back, her wings spreading wide, well as wide as she can spread them, her head tilting a littleto one side. She watches everything, with more than a litle confusion, after all, shes never seen a birthday party before. She might look a bit odd, a little foal perched apon the 'monster's' back, tell she grins rather fangily at everyponys, paticularily at Shutterbug for screaming like a little girl.

Derpy flaps up and down again between the prince and the star flier a couple times more, her dress getting more poorly situated on her frame each time. It's turned a fall quarter turn from where it should be by the time she decides which way down is. "Welcome and thank you for gift! Dinky will so happy," she tells Thunderlane. She looks over at the growing pile of wrapped gifts on the table and her eyes start to water with happiness... until she sees Match Maker enter. Derpy, too, is aghast, shrieking and flapping straight up until she hits the ceiling again, now that Eclipse isn't there anymore. She stares at the changeling and tries to fly through a window that turns out to be closed. Sinking to the floor, she rattles the window ineffectually. "Is CHANGING MonStER!!" she cries.

Match_Maker sighs. The fancy little box she's got in her teeth... With the lovely little stuffed ursa inside... (Like a stuffed animal, not a taxidermied bear) gets set on the table... "Ptooie." *coughcough* "I heard that Dinky was having a birthday... And I wanted to give her a present..." Matchy says, shrinking back from the attention. "I-I'll just go now..." she says, holding Bluefeather to her chest.

It is, and it's budding more monsters from its back! Shutter knew this would happen! He pokes his camera up from under the tablecloth and snaps some photos as either tomorrow's newspaper page or the last record of their existence before bug-things eat them all.

Sighing, Eclipse shakes his head a little. "It's ok," He tells Derpy, smiling, "We can protect you from anything that could happen." Of course he's a little foal, what can he do, but he's got confidence. He also blinks as the flash goes off, getting those little sparkle after images in his eyes.

<OOC> Maplewing blehs and is foodsleepy n.n
<OOC> Nettleglum says, "/Confidence protects children-- and idiots./ Mark Twain."

PUB >> Pinkie Pie says, "o/~ PAAAAAAARP o/~"
PUB >> Pinkie Pie says, "Birthday!!"

Aurichalcum has arrived.
Pinkie_Pie has arrived.

<OOC> Match_Maker FREAKS OUT! "WHEN DID YOU GET HERE, NETTIE?!"

Pinkie_Pie pops out of a cupboard, blowing a party horn! *PAAAAARP!*
BlueFeather sticks her tongue out at Derpy, even as Match hugs her close, allways with ponys its the hate. SHe flicks her wings a little, and glares, before chirping softly, "Bad pony, make Shine hurt."

Aurichalcum stumbles backwards, startled. He just came in for some scones, and then there was this crowd...

Twilight_Sparkle shows up at this point! She teleports in, materalizing with a flash, and smiling brightly as she looks around at everyone. "Hay, everypony! Happy birthday, Dinky! We're so happy to be..." she pauses, and looks over her shoulder, seeing that no dragon is seated on her back. "Spike? Where are you? Oh, for Celestia's sake, I've told him about moving when I'm about to teleport him. She scrunches up her face in concentration, and Spike appears, where he would have been had he been seated on her back when she arrived. However, since she's turned around and taken a couple steps since then, he materalizes in midair. *paf*

Pinkie_Pie calls out in slow motion, "Noooooooooooooooooo!" heroically, she throws a cake underneath Spike.

Derpy is still afraid, but the comfort of those around her lends her confidence, and thus protection. She slowly stops shivering and her look of terror turns to one of uncertainty. And she does notice the monster adding a gift to the table. "...He... Hello?" she says, walking slowly toward the two headed fangy thing. She doesn't seem to recall meeting Match Maker before, although they're crossed paths a few times now. Derpy is just about to offer her hoof in tentative acceptable when a flash of light strikes and Derpy rears up in startlement again. She happens to catch Spike on her back just as he materializes.
Derpy then gets hit by a cake in the face. Her garish paisley dress gets splattered.

Thunderlane hitches back a corner of his mouth as he looks from the changeling totem over towards Eclipse, who seems to be the only other one not panicking at the immediate moment. "Hm." But then the little filly speaks and the would-be Wonderbolt turns his focus to her. "So.... some of us.. have no clue what You are. Maybe.. an explanation might help to keep everypony from panicking, hm?" He suggests, not unkindly, but cautious regardless.

Pinkie_Pie rubs her hoof on her chest. "Ayep. That's why I'm one of the Elements, baby."

Twilight_Sparkle concentrates again, and two wrapped presents, one clearly a book and one...probably something else, also appear at the top of the pile. *paf*

Spike falls to the floor with a thud, half-in, half-out of a tuxedo jacket. "I *said* I wasn't *ready* yet!"

Quasar has arrived.
Dynamite_Rave has arrived.

Twilight_Sparkle thinks Spike has fallen to Derpy rather than to the floor!
Twilight_Sparkle also waves to Rave!

<OOC> Derpy says, "Yes indeed!"
<OOC> Spike says, "Oops, missed that pose. Yes, Spike falls on Derpy's back."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Is inevit. ^.n"

Aurichalcum grins happily. "It szeems I've sztumbled upon szomepony'sz birthday party! Even better. I love szurpriszszzszssz - thpt. You know what I meant."

<OOC> Derpy hellos to newcomersz!

Trotting into Sugar Cube is Dynamite Rave. He is dressed in his royal gold and purple armor with the symbol of the element of magic placed over his chest proudly. He is sans helmet to let his newly minted mohawk stick out in black spikes. He is carrying a wrapped package on his back as he looks about with a smile on his face.

Pinkie_Pie beams. "You know it! I love surpriszzszszszpppppblth!" Her tongue appears to have gotten stuck between her teeth. She bobbles the end of it with her hoof, perplexed."

Maplewing has left.

Match_Maker staggers back against the wall. The flash in her eyes has blinded her, and she flails her way into a corner. "I'm not gonna hurt anypony!" she says, flailing her hooves in front of her. "Ponies are friends, not food!" she says desperately. "I CAN'T SEE!" she shrieks, starting to panic.

Spike wriggles the rest of the way into the jacket and straightens his bowtie before realizing he's not on Twilight's back. "Oh, hello Derpy. Sorry to drop in on you like that."

Aurichalcum says "Whoszy birthday isz thisz? I don't have a preszent at the moment, but I can promisze a belated one."

Solar_Eclipse blinks a bit as quite a few things go on at once. He scratches his head a few times with a hoof and then seems to settle in. As the Princess Pony and entourage enter, he waves a bit, "Hi, uh...Cousin? I'm not sure how that works," he admits.

Quasar has left.

If the monster is starting to panic, that's probably a good time for you to panic, too. Derpy leaps and flies and skids along the floor, her eyes not directing her soundly or warning her when her elevation reaches zero. She runs over toward Match Maker and then runs away again, taking a split second to bop Pinkie Pie's tongue back into place with her ribbon-tied tail. Eventually she stops running in the corner of the room and heaves a few deep breaths. "Is all right, Spike," she tells the reptile on her back. "More is merrier." And speaking of which... Derpy looks carefully around the rapidly filling room. Dynamite Rave's question catches her ear. "...Where is Dinky?" she asks in a quiet voice that nonetheless happens to come at a moment when nopony is speaking, and thus fills the room.

BlueFeather climbs up atop of Match's head and glares at everypony, wings spreading wide, atempting to shield Match as best she can, hissing softly, and totaly confused. SHes not sure who is attacking, or how, but, she defiantly does not plan to let anyone attack Match. She bares her fangs, and glares at anypony that might come close to Match, doing her best to atempt to intimidate the ponys and make them leave Match Maker alone.

Red_Velvet has arrived.

Twilight_Sparkle looks at Eclipse, and ponders. "I think we're...cousins in title, at least," she says, slowly, like she's reasoning this in her head. "Obviously it's a different sense than if we were biological cousins, or cousins in any conventional sense, because my brother being married to another princess would be *weird* then." She grins. "But you can call me cousin if you want, cousin."

"So, what do you call me then?" Dynamite asks Twilight as he gives her a playful shoulder bump, followed by a touch of his nose to her jawline as he steps to her side. He floats the present off his back over to the table where the others are, then gives Eclipse a broad grin. "Hey there BFF. What's up? Where's Dinkster at? This is /her/ party right?"

A sudden gust of icy wind blasts out of the kitchen, and Nettleglum shambles into view, framed in the rectangle of light from the refrigerator. It's amazing what you find in leftovers these days. She gently closes the fridge door behind her and lurches into the main room. "I believe I can answer your query, Mister Thunderlane, dear," she intones, voice as hollow as the empty jello-mold she's trailing on her back hoof. "That would be the Changeling her majesty has granted leave to roam within the boundaries of Equestria, pending her first transgression against ponyfolk."

Pinkie_Pie pokes her tongue happily. "You fixed it! Thank you, Derpness! I had enough of the tongue thing the last time I was infected by Poison Joak."

Twilight_Sparkle bumps shoulders with Rave, grinning. "Well, you're my security detail. So I get to call you 'security!' and I think you're supposed to call me 'your majesty' or something like that, but...I'm gonna keep calling you Rave and I expect you to keep calling me Twilight, for the most part."

Thunderlane snorts at the defensive BlueFeather, his question towards her and her apparent charge going unanswered as the bug-like ponything starts to panic. "Grand." He mutters sourly as he takes several steps away so as not to be in the road of that 'thing'. He instead relocates himself to an unoccupied corner with some punch and settles in to watch the arriving ponies. Nettleglum's explanation earns an acknowledging nod of his head. "Thanks. ..so that's what they look like."

Pinkie_Pie whistles. "Nettiegloom hasn't been this well preserved in - she's never been this well preserved."

Nettleglum's lurching gait takes her to the refreshment table. "Your milk is almost expired, Miss Pie." Trust her on this, she can spot things that are expired.

Match_Maker blinks the last of the spots from her eyes. "I said I was sorry! I just... I just wanna be one of you." she says, gathering up Bluefeather. She looks slightly betrayed as she starts to make her way to the nearest exit.

Aurichalcum steps toward Match Maker, head tilted. "I don't undersztand why you can't."

Dynamite_Rave looks amused. "Oh, is that what I am now? Your security?" He says with a chuckle, followed by a wink. "Well, you could call me Corporal Dynamite." He teases as he gives her a gentle nuzzle to the ear. "Though I prefer my own nickname for you." He says as he glances upwards and away with a smirk upon his face. "What'd you get for Dinky?"

Spike hangs on tightly as Derpy ricochets around the room, then carefully dismounts once the ride has come to a complete stop. He gazes around the room at the ponies -- or, from his eyeline, at a forest of flanks and legs. "Quite a turnout tonight!" He wanders through the crowd towards the changeling, who seems to be in some kind of distress; if he's at all afraid of her, it doesn't show.

Pinkie_Pie waggles her eyebrows at Dynamite. "Does she call you that in case you need corporal punishment?"

Twilight_Sparkle walks over to Pinkie Pie, and bumps flanks with her. "THAT is a subject for a less Dinky-themed gathering." To Rave, she grins, and says, "that would be telling."

BlueFeather continues to glare and hiss and even snap at ponys, if thay get too close, being perhaps rather over protective of Match Maker, even if she really has no reason to, even if shes too small to make much of a diference. SHes making a stand, no matter what.

Derpy finds herself coming to a halt near the door as her panic ends. As one reptile dismounts from her, she finds herself face to face with another one that looks even weirder. Or farther out, if you prefer. At this point, her monster-fear reservoir of specially flavored adrenaline seems to be exhausted, so she just blinks at Aurichalcum. "...is party for my daughter, Dinky," she says. Again she looks around. "Have anyone seen Dinky!?" she calls in fear. What if something has happened to her?

"Mmm, I guess," Eclipse tells Twilight with a chuckle, "We need a family tree or something." He grins to Dyna and waves to him too, "Dyna!" he exclaimes with a grin, then has a seat, looking around, "I haven't seen her since I got here. I was wondering where she was too."

Pinkie_Pie flankbumps Twilight back happily! She doesn't get to bump princesses nearly enough. She's not sure she's bumped Celestia or Luna at ALL.

Dynamite_Rave lets out a laugh. "Don't worry Twi, our secrets are safe with me." He says then wide whispers to Pinkie. "I'll tell you later." He winks once again before he glances about the party, then gives a smile over to Derpy as he lifts a hoof and waves to her. "I have not seen Dinky. Do you need me to cast a tracking spell and drag her over here?" He laughs.

"Miss Derpy, dear-- your daughter was kind enough to request I make a few refreshments for her natal day," deadpans Nettie, as she sets a covered silver server on the table. It would perhaps be more reassuring if there were not numerous dents on the domed lid, which is, in fact, padlocked closed. "Please remain calm. Perhaps she is simply being fashionably late?" It would be fashionable to be the late Dinky, as Nettie might say.

Match_Maker looks at Goldy... (Aurichalcum)... She siddles towards the door, mist drifting from her fangs. "You ponies... You prattle about love and friendship. This is how you treat someling who just wants to be loved and befriended? I've tried my best. I really have. I TRY to fit in, and all of you... you just push me away. No more... Soon. Soon all of you will pay DEARLY for your hypocracy!" she snarls, now half-way out the door with Bluefeather on her back.

Spike headtilts. "You oughtta at least stay for some cake...changelings like cake, right?" His voice is gentle; he knows what it's like to not fit in, after all.

Nettleglum simply stares, unblinking. Her majesty has vouchsafed for the changeling; that is sufficient for Nettie. Luna could vouch for a rampaging cliff-ghast and Nettie would accept it-- the Princess is law.

Derpy has been taking in a lot of the things people have been saying, if not exactly processing them properly. She heard Nettleglum's explanation of Match Maker. But she didn't really file it under actionable items. So she, sadly, does not attempt to stop Match from leaving, though she does draw up in tension over the word 'hypocrisy' and the threat of revenge. But what drew her attention to Nettleglum was where she came from. "In fridgebox??" she asks, pointing into the kitchen. "But whyy?! And also why." She points to the padlocked pastries. "Cannot eat metals." As for Dynamite, Derpy turns hopefully and nods twice to him. "Pleeease! If can find Dinky, then FIiNd!"

Aurichalcum addresses Match, head tilted in confusion. "I haven't the szlighteszt clue what happened to make you think you were unwelcome."

Nettleglum was just making sure the snacks were fresh. ._. This is a very special day for Miss Dinky.

Scope has arrived.

<OOC> Derpy says, "Hello laser scope!"
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie is reasoanbly sure some of Nettie's best friends are rampaging cliff ghasts.
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie is reasoanbly sure some of Nettie's best friendsXXXXXXXXXXXX relatives are rampaging cliff ghasts.
<OOC> Nettleglum counts you among them, dear.
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie beams! ^^
<OOC> Scope says, "Pewpew"
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "Pinkie Beams are like the party cannon. They fire only fun!"

BlueFeather turns her nose up at the ponys, not minding at all that Match is turning to leave, and taking her with, she knows the ponys do not want her around.

Dynamite_Rave gives a nod of his head to Derpy, followed by a warm and honest smile. With a bump of his shoulder against Eclipse, he takes in a deep breath and effortlessly concentrates as his horn flares to life in a glowing blaze of fire. It takes a few moments for the spell to work it's way through but suddenly there is a 'pop' and a red arrow appears over his head. It looks left, looks right, then starts to float out the door as he turns and trots after it. "Well, I'll be back as soon as I can! Wish me luck guys!"

[In next log, will follow Rave's mission!]

Match_Maker points at Shutterbug. "It's ponies like that. Or like any other common village pony. What's the point of being 'accepted' by a few of the higher rankers if I can't be myself around the ponies I want to befriend?!" she says, growing angry. "WHAT'S THE POINT IF I CAN'T BE ME?" she says, before turning and fleeing.

Spike frowns, staring after the fleeing Changeling, then looking up at Auri. "That's a shame. She seemed interesting."

Red_Velvet stands just outside Sugarcube Corner, dressed quite fine and holding a rather surprisingly small gift box in her magic. However the elegant agent seems rather uncertain about entering. She has heard angry voices and felt the burst of Dynamite Rave's magic...in her experience anger and magic in the same locale is never a good sign. She quickly steps to the side as she witnesses Match Maker flee the scene with Bluefeather, "Oh my...Match! Darling! Are you al...right? Well I suppose that does answer my question. The poor dear."

Twilight_Sparkle blinks several times, her eyes now focused on the changeling; she looks guilty for a moment, wondering inwardly if it makes her a bad princess to have been making small talk with friends while something of such interspecies import has been going down elsewhere at the party. She makes a mental note to be more attuned to that sort of thing. Still, even as MM flees, there's not much she can think of to do...and so the bearer of the element of friendship looks down at the floor, feeling a bit helpless.

Aurichalcum rubs the back of his head with an upper hand. "Muszt be szome szort of bad blood there... sztill, I won't let that dampen my enjoyment. I'm already plotting gift ideasz." He grins over at Spike (who he's only slightly taller than, incidentally). "Do you think she'd like a szet of tin szoldiersz?"

PUB >> Looking down from the moon, Princess Luna points at the dragon's cave on Mount Everfree.
PUB >> Looking down from the moon, Princess Luna SEES ALL, PONIES.

Dynamite_Rave has left.

Derpy looks confused and sad at the sudden departure, too. Which is strange and maybe touching, given that she was running from the toothy two-headed monster of Bluefeather on Match Maker only minutes earlier. Scrabbling at windows, even. Ah, Derpy. She trots to the refreshment table and starts to slowly smile. Twilight catches her eye and Derpy gasps sharply and bows deeply.

BlueFeather tries to fall in line next to Match_Maker, but she moves away and does not allow them to.

Solar_Eclipse blinks a few times "Should I go with him?" he asks, as he watches Dyna head out. Then all the yelling and his ears pin back, brow furrowing. "Err, this isn't turning out to be a really happy birthday yet, is it?"

Mimic has arrived.
Thunderlane has disconnected.

Twilight_Sparkle fidgets some, smiling awkwardly at Derpy. "Please, I'm the same old local librarian, just here for Dinky's party like anypony else."

Match_Maker has left.

Spike hmms, thinking about Auri's suggestion. "I don't know. She's at kinda that age where ponies don't like to admit to liking much of anything."

Memoire_Musique has arrived.
Somewhere on the muck, Dusk connected.

BlueFeather has left.

Pinkie_Pie trots over to Twilight and Derpy, cause they're two of her best friends! "Oh, yeah, she's REALLY olllllld!" she assures Derpy in a loud voice.

Twilight_Sparkle narrows her eyes. "I'm pretty much the same exact age as YOU, P. Diane Pie."

<OOC> Derpy imagines Twilight as 21 and Pinkie as 20. In my headcanon they were 18 and 17 when the show began.

Derpy rises with clearer eyes. "Old library? Heehee!" She giggles like a steel marble doing a push-up. "Are sweet to come, Princess. Have so many to say, but forgotten them! Oh yes! Have sent away your security. Maybe Security will find my daughter!! In meantime?" She looks around the room with a cautioning gaze. "NOPONY attack Princess Twilike! Or will uninvite!"

Memoire_Musique waddles in, dragging a small box with her. It's nearly as big as she is! The little filly huffs and puffs, chubby little legs tapping on the floor as she attempts to weave through the crowd.

For a passerby pony, the uproar from Sugarcube Corner is something you just can't not investigate. The sounds, the lights, the smells! Such excitement. Hesitantly, though, does Mimic poke her shimmery little head inside and blinks. "...oh wow..." It's a boisterous birthday party! The crystalline unicorn steps her way inside Sugarcube Corner with her eyes wide to take in all the sights and the hoard of ponies.

Pinkie_Pie smiles at Twiliht. "Oh, you remembered my middle name, awesome! Not that many ponies HAVE middle names. I'm very proud of mine!" ^^

Derpy tries to remember whether she has a middle name.

Pinkie_Pie (Der P Hooves)
Pinkie_Pie (Derpy 'Bubbaloo' Hooves)
Twilight_Sparkle (Derpamina Margaret Hooves)

Quicksilver has arrived.
Dusk has arrived.

Red_Velvet slowly enters the shop where the party is in full swing, smiling uncertainly at the room as a whole she clears her throat, "Hello, everypony. I do hope I haven't missed the fun portion of the party?" Red then trots over to the gift table and gently deposits her small parcel in amongst the others. She then turns and spots little Memoire and smiles, "Well now, who is this pretty little lady? Attending your first birthday party all alone? My goodness what a big present you have there."

Pinkie_Pie assures Derpy, "I got mine at Middle Names and Sofas."

Aurichalcum (is properly Aurichalc of house Um, home of such luminaries as Platin, Carborund, and Potasi. Other houses are Ite, On, Ine, and the alchemists of Ase. :> )

Memoire_Musique looks up at Velvet and nods, babbling in the language of foals and madponies. "Uh huh!" she finishes up with. She points at the box, before leaning in to whisper to Velvet... "ISH BWAN!" she bellows in a not at all stage whisper.

Derpy laughs at Pinkie's obvious joke, reminiscent of a tricycle being disassembled and reassembled as a giant egg beater. "Maybe I? Will purchase 'Hephalump'." She giggles again and spreads her wings, addressing the room. "Thank you so many for coming! When only daughter Dinky arrives, will party complete!!"

Nettleglum von Grimdark? Is 'von' a middle name?

Memoire_Musique thinks it means 'of'... Like Magnus von Magnusson. Means Magnus son of Magnus.

Pinkie_Pie warns any fillies and colts not to get into Nettleglum's von.

<OOC> Nettleglum was being ironic. ._.
<OOC> Aurichalcum was half-joking there but does like the idea of basilisk nobility named things like Xenon and Argon.
<OOC> Derpy does too!
<OOC> Derpy wonders about chemical properties of Derpon.
<OOC> Derpy says, "Or more likeful Derpium."
<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle says, "Spike is making us corn bread IRL."
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "It has two protons oribiting in opposite directions. 6 9"
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "Oooh, corn bread!"
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "Ponies love corn bread. o/~"
<OOC> Aurichalcum giggles at another thought. The basilisks' current monarch is Queen Carbon XII.
<OOC> Derpy says, "Is atomically massive. n.n"

Maplewing has arrived.

Pinkie_Pie claps her hooves together. "Hephalump! That's a wonderful middle name! I hope someone else buys it if you don't."

Red_Velvet giggles softly and leans down to pick Memoire up in her hooves, levitating the gift as she does, "That is so sweet, would you like some help putting it on the table Memmy?" She hovers the gift just close enough that the foal can hold it in her hooves, but Red still supports the weight of it as she turns towards the table again, "There now, can you put it on the table yourself like a big girl?"

Derpy goes and sees how huge the pile of gifts has become! She then wanders over through the smalltalk of middle names and greets Red Velvet and Memoire. "Hello and welcome!!" she says, flapping her wings. To Velvet: "SOO glad that not changeling destroy! Are music?"

Memoire_Musique flexes her non-existent muscles, and finally manages to heft the gift onto the table. "Wanna wide! Wanna OWAGE JEWS!" she says out loud.

<OOC> Maplewing cant help but wonder just how oranges found religion. ^.^
<OOC> Aurichalcum says, "There'sz a joke in there about getting unpeeled, I'm czertain..."
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "If god gives you lemon juice, get a new god!"
<OOC> Maplewing says, "or make combustable lemons."
<OOC> Memoire_Musique says, "GODBERRY! KING OF THE JUICE!"

Mimic lingers on the fringes of the group, looking in towards the gathered ponies who celebrate with a faint and considering smile. There's an ever so soft glow of aurora-like magic that hovers suddenly about her horn as she looks slowly one way than another with the careful workings of someone taking a panoramic photograph with a shaky camera.

<OOC> Derpy enjoy lemon chess! Kumquat is best piece.
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie heehes at Memoire and sprouts a thumb to give her a thumbs up. ^^
<OOC> Dusk says, "I think they're looking for the godberry at that collider thing."
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie read that as 'pornographic photograph', Mimic.
<OOC> Maplewing says, "Super Collider? I hardly knew her!?"
<OOC> Dusk says, "Where they collide different berries together very fast to make new ones."
<OOC> Aurichalcum says, "The elemental particle of affection, the Huggsz Boszon."
<OOC> Dusk play a rim shot for Maple. :-)
<OOC> Maplewing bows. ^.^

Pinkie_Pie trots over to Memoire, and scrunches down so she can get on her back for a ride.

<OOC> Derpy laughs! Is source of once elusive schnozzberry.
<OOC> Maplewing wonders: Just what /is/ the atomic weight of a Schnozzberry.
<OOC> Dusk nods to Derpy, "Yes they have found many new ones in the process!" He chuckles.
<OOC> Derpy says, "Is burgundy!"
<OOC> Maplewing says, "apparently they have estimated the weight of all the data on the internet to be about that of a large strawberry."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Wow!"
<OOC> Maplewing says, "and I'm not joking either -D"
<OOC> Dusk caughs it up. "It may be the size of one, but there's a lot of parts you /really/ don't want to taste."
<OOC> Aurichalcum nods to Dusk. "Much like a sztrawberry, there are many partsz which are szeedy and pink."
<OOC> Dusk says, "And some just plain rotten."
<OOC> Maplewing says, "not size, weight."
<OOC> Maplewing says, "though, "Tro-jam" sounds kind of tasty?"

Red_Velvet laughs softly at the foal before smiling and greeting Derpy, "Oh no, dear. Not music. I have one for you as well." Red drifts a second gift identical to Dinky's up to offer to her hostess. "I realized as I was wrapping Dinky's that I still owed you a gift as well from the past year I was...um...'indisposed' Darling."

Memoire_Musique sprawls on Velvet's back, snuggling down onto the older mare and nuzzling quietly.

Derpy gapes happily, her prior malaise only hanging on by the thread of the mother who worries that her daughter's irrational fears of never making it to age ten were somehow vindicated. She takes the box and turns it around in her forehooves over and over until she stumbles and falls onto her posterior. "So kindly," she says, not remembering at all whether she gave Red a gift. She slowly opens the package to see what's inside.

Firefly has arrived.

A blast of cool night air poushes the doors open and Firefly walks in grinning.

Solar_Eclipse squints a bit. He steps aside from where everyone is, into the relative quietness of a corner. Horn glows a moment, and his shadow flutters a bit, then sinks into the floor. He's sent it...off somewhere Somhow.
Red_Velvet smiles and reaches up with a hoof to lightly stroke Memoire's mane, "Memmy, sweetie. I think Miss Pinkie Pie was offering you a ride." She watches as Derpy opens the gift to reveal a slip of paper that simply reads, 'One wish. RVP.' Red titters and waits to see Derpy's response.

Derpy looks at the paper. She turns it over and over again. Her eyes cross. She looks at Red Velvet, eyes still crossed. "But have ~enough~ wishes!" Oh, don't be ungrateful, Derpy! She softens and nuzzles Red anyway. "Thanking you for gift. Will have one more wish to wish to-night." She then feels a draft and turns to see Firefly arriving. "Fireflight! Helloo!"

Firefly nods a hello to Derpy and sets a wrapped gift over on a table out of the way.

Memoire_Musique perks up, then LEAPS over to Pinkie! "WIDE! WIDE!!!" she says, landing near the Pink Ones head and attempting an earnomattack.

Pinkie_Pie heehes, rearing back, and galloping gleefully around the room!

Starfire has arrived.
Starfire arrives, gliding in.
Chance has arrived.

Dinky has arrived.

[Derpy]

But where was Dinky? And where was Dynamite Rave when search for? This is their story.

============================

Tejene's Camp
Apparently somepony has taken up residence at the very edge of the WhiteTail Wood, just at the very border to the danger zone that is the Everfree Forest. In a small natural nook between the forests a campsite has been set. There is a low split-rail type fence erected around the perimeter. It stands barely to the shoulder of most ponies and with a broad enough gap between the rails that most anything which cannot jump over could slip through.

Upon the top of every other post sits a gourd of some type or hangs a mask of carved wood, each painted in earthy tones and stark but appealing patterns though the masks may prove a bit frightening toward younger ponies. The area inside the fence is mostly grassy and flat while directly opposite the fence, the darkness of the forest looms. A flock of a dozen or so black-and-white speckled Guineafowl hens cluck about, pecking at this or that and occasionally scratching baths into the dust.

The camp itself appears primarily nomadic in nature. Lighting is provided by torches set into fence posts. Living space is broken up into a handful of rectangular wood-bottomed safari type tents. They are constructed of heavy khaki colored canvas material that smells as it has been treated with some type of natural oil, stiff wooden posts, rope, and heavy wooden stakes. Each tent has a different mask hanging at its front as well, one private tent where the resident zebra sleeps, another for food preparation, a third for storage and other things, a wooden table, chuck box and fire pit outside. The whole assembly seems quite compact, low-impact, relatively comfortable, and portable enough that it could all be packed into the smallish conestoga wagon which sits outside the fence gate and hauled away in a day or two.

[ Exits: [O]ut into the [Woods] ]
[ Sleepers: Tejene ]

Dynamite_Rave pages, "Yo, where you at? " to you.

You page, "Just taking a stroll in the woods." to Dynamite_Rave.

In a page-pose to you, Dynamite_Rave grins. 'Isn't the birthday girl supposed to be here?"

You page, "Probably. Whose birthday is it?" to Dynamite_Rave.

You exit the safety of the camp and step out into the forest.

Dynamite_Rave pages, "YOURS. " to you.


>->->->-> @.@.@ FROGGY BOTTOM BOG @.@.@ <-<-<-<-<-<

Humidity. Wind. More damp and wetness. A harsh place indeed, this bog. The lands before you are low and flat for the most part. Where the dark swamps lay and the frogs and hydra play. The entire swamp is dark, dreary, muggy and just plain mucky. Every now and then the sounds of frogs croaking in ever direction stops and the bog goes silent, a heavy ruslting of something large in the water passes, then slowly the frogs once more resume their chorus. Back in the reeds is a small shack of some sort, long abandonoed, or is it? The porch is covered in vines and moss but looks cleared off as if somepony had tried to tidy things up some. Its not very large, but is built decently enough to still be rather solid after seasons of neglect.

The thick trees that cover the bog look like wet bedraggled skeletons, thick leaves drooping and swaying in the wind, cragged limbs creaking under the weight of thick dangly vines everywhere a pony looks. The entire bog is alive, open water now with thick reeds and lilypads everywhere in the dark murky water. The breezes generate swirling eddies along the usaully glass-like surface from time to time. Small whirly wisps of mist race along the water. A quick step reveals the water is more than deep enough to swim in, after all, the hydra love it. Assuming anypony would be crazy enough to trek this far into Everfree for a bit of swim among hydra and leeches.

Large greenish lumps in the water reveal where the thick mosses line the edges of the water, where critters often make their dens. There are plenty of frogs out today. A few hydra seen way off in the distance if one is lucky to be looking. Not even a manticore would want to venture into the mucky bog with hydra about. The skies above are shrouded here and there with dark grey clouds, keeping the bog in a dull grey tone most of the time. Visibility in general is much better now, not that there is much to see. The mourning sound of whistling wind sings softly like a ghost through dangling vines and branches. Unless you know the area well the bog is quite a scary and dangerous place to travel in during any season.

>->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<

[Back] Back into the Deep Everfree Forest.
[Shack] Enter a weathered old shack in the reeds.

>->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<


You page, "Is it? I guess I forgot. I just felt like wondering around in the furthest, most horrible bog I could find and everything else just, like, slippped my mind." to Dynamite_Rave.

Dynamite_Rave pages, "Shall I have Dynamite pop over to talk to Dinky?" to you.

You page, "Gotta catch me first!" to Dynamite_Rave.

Dynamite_Rave pages, "I got magic and I can teleport!" to you.

You page, "Tough stuff! Catching me and saying "THERE YOU ARE" simulates the challenge of the teleport!" to Dynamite_Rave.

PUB >> Looking down from the moon, Princess Luna points at the dragon's cave on Mount Everfree.

In a page-pose to you, Dynamite_Rave trots over to your room, catches you, then says THERE YOU ARE.

Dynamite_Rave pages, "Well, is my location spell at least working? " to you.

You page, "Sure! It's called 'find'." to Dynamite_Rave.


Peak of Mount Everfree

>->->->-> @.@.@ PEAK of MT EVERFREE @.@.@ <-<-<-<-<

After braving that winding trail and chilly high altitude winds, you have arrived at a small flat and level patch of stone. The edges are lined with small boulders and stones, the flat part mostly clear and smooth, the local winds keeping it swept nicely clean. Above you is the peak of the mountain, a bit up there yet, but unless you can fly there was no way to get to it. Below you lies the mountain whole, you can see that thin winding trail leading back to the dragon's cave and the tops of the clouds of Everfree.

Before you is something quite different. In the side of the mountain is what looked from below to be a cave entrance. Up close, you can see it was a trick of the light. What looked like a cave does look like a cave, but there is no entrance. Just a large plain dark grey slab of stone covering it over. There are no hinges, no latches, no magical sense about it, it's just a slab of heavy stone, cold to the touch and solid as the mountain itself. Almost as creepy as things down in the forest.

>->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<

[Down] Back down the thin winding mountain trail.

>->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<


Dynamite_Rave climbs up from the winding trail below.

<OOC> Dynamite_Rave rarr!
<OOC> You say, "You need to say the catchphrase."

You head on down the mountain.

You head towards the Far Everfree.

Far Everfree Forest

>->->->->-> @.@. FAR EVERFREE FOREST .@.@ <-<-<-<-<-<

This far reach of the Everfree Forest is much like the rest of it. it much darker, the contant rumble of strong thunder making it louder. It is a LOT windier for sure. The ghostly eerie sound of wailing whistling wind echoes among the thick angry looking trees, the moss flapping like torn rags along their trunks and limbs. Thick vines swing and jerk about as it they were alive...or was it the raging wind? The ground here is rockier with wet muddy patches here and there.

The thick thorny bushes and scrub lead to the edge of a sheer stone drop-off, a cliff. A darker area of the forest lies several hundred feet below this edge, the view fading towards the very source of the flashes of light, noise and wind....a massive raging thunderstorm of intense proportions and power has settled in over the valley, unmoving, lighting flaring here and there either into the sky or into a random tree where it explodes in a small shower of sparks and scorched wood, the ground shaking slightly when nearer peals of thunder fills the air. The storm neither grows nor weakens...but seems to be in a steady state of violent upheaval.

The cliff itself runs roughly north to south, the stony precipice levels off in the far distance in both directions. Along the northern edge a path leads into the gloomy forest where a tall thin mountain can be seen rising far above the canopy. Craggy and lacking any vegetation, the dark stony mountain just sits there, daring anypony to venture forth. Along the horizon to the south the forest gets much taller and thicker, darker, gloomier. Quite a ways off there is what appears to be the top of a dark stone tower of some sort. From here nothing more is discernable though. A pony would have to get closer to see more.

>->->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<

[Back] Back to the edge of the Forest.
[Up] Fly onwards into the raging storm.
[Cave] Enter the Cave of the Night.
[Dark] Head south into the darker part of the forest.
[Gloom] Head off into the gloomy forest to the north.

>->->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<


[ Sleepers: Berylpit ]

Dynamite_Rave pages, "What catch phrase? XD" to you.

You page, "THERE YOU ARE!" to Dynamite_Rave.
Dynamite_Rave comes from the gloomy forest before the mountain.

Not being a pegasus, it might be unwise to leap from a cliff of this height.

Dinky leaps

You venture off into the darker section of the forest to the south.

Dark Everfree Forest
>->->->->-> @.@. DARK EVERFREE FOREST .@.@ <-<-<-<-<-<

This far dark reach of the Everfree Forest is much like the rest of it. The trees here are much thickerr, the canopy overhead making this a gloomy place even upon the brightest of days. Well off in the distance soft flickers of lightning can be seen, so distant there is no thunder to be heard. The ghostly eerie sound of wailing whistling wind echoes among the thick angry looking trees, dead limbs and branches softly rustling against one another, clicking and squeaking. The ground here is muckier, covered in scraggly moss making walking difficult.

The ground slopes down as one follows the cliff edge in this direction, eventually leveling out, thick thorny bushes and scrub now fill the thin spaced between the towering trees. A darker area ahead reflects eerily as a large stone tower rises amid the flora. The dark stones revealing nothing from here, but wait, was there a light flickering in an open window, or was that a trick reflected by one of those distant flashes of light on the horizon?

>->->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<

[Far] Head off towards the Far Everfree Forest.
[Into] Step inside Lumina Tower.

>->->->->->->->->->-> @.@ * @.@ <-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<-<

Dynamite_Rave comes along from the far Everfree forest.
You decide to enter the dark forboding tower.

Lumina Tower: Entrance Level
You enter into complete darkness. The only light you see is from the outside (even at night) and the wooden staircase, supported on wooden beams and illuminated by whatever atmospheric lighting shines through from above. You think you also see to your right a space for a fireplace, set at the far end of the tower. Beyond the staircase is a small space, filled with cobwebs. Venturing from the entrance to the stairs, you would gradually start to see up into the yawning space above... the inside of the tower you beheld outside, and a spiral staircase leading upward into darkness. At intervals advancing upward, you see perfectly plain, rectangular lookouts, set just above each corresponding loop of staircase. The stone of the place is dusty and overgrown with moss; it crumbles in many places.

[ Exits: [Th]rough the [C]obwebs., [Climb] the Wooden Staircase., ]
[ [Out] of Lumina Tower, into Everfree Forest. ]

Dynamite_Rave comes inside from the dark forest.
You climb the wooden staircase, hopping the gap!

Lumina Tower: Mezzanine Level
You come to a somewhat more decorated space, more well-lit, and having modern additions to the old stonework, though only at the level of the mezzanine and not the space above. There is another fireplace where you were sure there was one below, and this one has wooden molding adorning all around, with decorations of ponies casting spells... All around this, plastering and dark wood molding decorate all around the level, with stone carvings jutting out at the top of every wooden beam from the stone itself. In the center of the space is a large table, and, looking up, a chandelier hangs low from a beam cutting through the diameter of the level above. In the wooden staircase, you notice a gap just below the landing, where part of the landing crumbles down into the darkness below.

[ Exits: [Climb] the Spiral Staircase., [D]escend the Wooden Staircase. ]

Dynamite_Rave has arrived.
You make your way to the spiral staircase and begin your ascent...

Lumina Tower: Spiral Staircase
You're on the spiral staircase, and nothing is keeping you from the ever more dizzying floor below as you make your way along it. At intervals, along just one wall, you come across lookouts, platforms which abutt the staircase itself and lead outside, through huge rectangular openings in the tower. There is some space to stand outside of the tower wall, but no balustrade to keep anypony from falling to their deaths! Out of the balcony openings you see a more or less bird's eye view of Everfree Forest and the land beyond, including Ponyville at a distance. You continue to make your way, urging your limbs onward. Above near the ceiling, you see the light coming through the end of the staircase which twists its way through it like a corkscrew through a stony cork. Just a level below, though, you notice an open doorway in the stairs, leading out into open air and what looks like a narrow platform circumventing the tower wall, with battlements jutting up along the outside edge.

[ Exits: To the [Gallery] above the Mezzanine., ]
[ [Climb] the Staircase up to the Observation Level., ]
[ [D]escend the Spiral Staircase. ]

Dynamite_Rave has arrived.
You climb the rest of the way to the observatory...

Lumina Tower: Observation Level
Finally, upon breaching the top, you come upon a stone observation deck, complete with another set of battlements. Set high above it on wooden beams is a tall, round, wooden pavillion, arching up and four-vaulted, with windows set into each arch. The most distinct thing you notice at present, though, is a large circular and perfectly sculpted mirror, lying tilted at an angle against the floor of the observation deck at the bottom end and leaned back against the inside arch of the pavillion at the uppermost end. It reflects perfectly, so much so that it looks to be a portal to the other side of the tower, and the only thing missing out of it being the central portion. On the ground next to it lies another, smaller mirror on a set of metal stilts.

[ Exits: [Back] down the Spiral Staircase. ]
[ Contents: Small Telescope Mirror, Telescope Mirror ]

Dynamite_Rave has arrived.

<OOC> Dynamite_Rave says, "There you are!"

Dinky GYAAAAH!!

<OOC> Dynamite_Rave says, "XD"
<OOC> Dynamite_Rave says, "Shall I set or you?"

Dinky looks annoyed. "Hey, Rave. Nice day, huh?"
There is a burst of flame and smoke as Dynamite steps through his portal, following after the glowing arrow that zips ahead of him. After a quick look around, he squints his eyes. "Hey! There you are. Everyone is at the Cube waiting on yah."

Dinky turns and stares at Rave, the wind blowing her hair. "What are they going to do to me in there, Rave? Demean me? Make me feel like I'm a sock in a box?"

"Actually, you got a table full of presents. You got a nice haul going on down there." Dynamite says as he sits down next to her, then lets out a yawn. "But, if you don't wanna hang out, we can just kick it here and I can give you your present in person." He says with a wink to her. "You missed some changeling freaking out and throwing a hissy fit in the middle of the Cube. I have no clue why but it seemed like a buncha drama that I wasn't gonna get involved with. Your mom is pretty worried."

Dinky sighs slowly and nods. She looks at Rave and at the spot where his portal was. Eventually, she stands tall and heaves a decisive breath. "Sounds like I missed the worst part. That's something. Okay, let's go."

Dynamite_Rave chuckles and tilts his head. "You don't want your present?" He asks as he clears his throat. "Actually, I'd rather just give it to you privately so I won't have to in front of everyone else. It's a song I wrote for yah."

Dinky nods. "Let's hear it, then!" It'll let her ease in.

Dynamite_Rave cracks a grin at her as he takes in a deep breath, then takes a bow forward. His horn lights up with magic as the observation deck is filled with pulsing lights and a heavy rumble of music. Coupled within the strong beat is the sounds of a piano, violins and singing harps. Once it builds to a crashing crescendo, it grows still for a moment as his voice takes to life, "Broken hoofsteps on the floor! I pick myself up and carry on, because something's waiting for me. And I won't let them write my song -- keep my direction and soon I'll be turned to gold!" As the music builds once more, his voice powers through the chorus as he stomps a hoof to the beat, "I'm a King without a throne! A heart without a home! Just cards that I've been dealt in life! I walk the road alone - but my hope will never die!" There is a deep, reverberating rumble, followed by a deep scratch of quick wubs, "I keep holding on! I keep holding on!" (Refrain 1)

Dinky grins at the orchestra accompanying Rave. "This isn't gonna be simple, is it?" she grins, sitting lightly. "Oh, it's about card games! Great. I like it so far."

As the music continues to build and tumble with heavy beats, Dynamite is trying his best not to dance right there as the air about him pulses with electric energy. It's almost like being hit in the face with a douse of warm air over and over again. "Heart in my mouth, but my head in the clouds - I can feel it rising. Bound to the earth but we can ascend, yeah - I'm rea-liz-ing. I feel my hooves lift off the ground - I can levitate! With every chord that plays I close my eyes and levitate!" As the music rushes downwards into a still trembling tempo, his voice continues to sing to her, "I'm a King without a throne - a heart without a home! Just cards that I've been dealt in life. I walk the road alone - but my hope will never die!" With another pulse of music followed by a shower of fireworks, he laughs as he takes a bow.

Dinky stands up taller and taller, the feeling electric. Her mane is standing up wispily. She almost seems ready to levitate right there. "Whoa. Whoa." A hoof rises to her horn, which looks normal. "I feel... oh, wow. Okay. I'm okay. Wow, Rave. You're one showy colt. So what's this hope of yours that never dies, huh?"

Dynamite_Rave gives a wink to her. "Not my hope, but yours. You're a loner by trade but I think you'll figure it out sooner or later. I know I had to." As he glances down at himself, he sees his shadow starting to prance in an impatient circle. "Looks like Romeo is telling me it's time to drag you back. C'mon, let's rip presents open and get ice cream." He says as his horn glows to open up the portal back home in front of them.

"Huh," says Dinky. "So it's my song, huh? My road? You... you didn't write it for me, did you? So I gotta keep my hope?" She glances at the shadow and walks for the portal.

"Of course I wrote it for you. It's your birthday present. I wouldn't give you a song that I wrote for myself would I?" Dynamite asks as he trots forward to the portal. "I have the lyrics written down on the other present I got for you which isn't as cool by the way. Read over them, see if they make sense." As he steps through the portal, he hums to himself. "Birthday girl is here!"

Dinky laughs as she walks thr...


Sugarcube Corner
* ^ * ^ * ^ --- SUGARCUBE CORNER --- ^ * ^ * ^ *

Located in the heart of Ponyville, this tasty-looking establishment is the town's patisserie, or bakery-confectionary. It boasts a gingerbread-patterned roof, a cupcake-shaped turret, and striped poles reminiscent of candy canes. The color scheme is pink, brown, cream and white, the architecture flaring. A sign hanging over the street depicts a pink-frosted cupcake.
Sugarcube Corner is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and houses their employee, Pinkie Pie. The first floor is taken up by a colorful storefront and an almost as colorful kitchen and dining room. The shop sells cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and a variety of other sweet treats, and the dining room provides space for Pinkie's frequent parties. There is a taffy puller in back.
The upper floors are where Pinkie lives, along with her baby pet alligator, Gummy. Pinkie's quarters are more austere, featuring wooden walls and a fireplace, but she's more than capable of sprucing them up, should festivities call for it. The upper turret is her bathroom, a round room done up in warm beiges and pink accents.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, Sugarcube Corner is bursting with festivity! Ribbons in lavender, mauve and pink entwine in ruffled clumps from point to point on the ceiling and high pieces of furniture. Lots of similarly colored balloons are filled with helium and tied to cooking racks, tables, the trusty taffy puller, and so on. There are even more bowls of candy set out than usual, and they appear to be free! The back room is set up with loads of fun-looking games and activities, such as a beanbag toss, a slip and slude covered in something that doesn't look like water, and dangling from a hook in the center of the room, a malformed pinata. What kind of creature is this pinata? It's simply impossible to say.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[ Exits: <B>ack to the Market ]
[ Players: Chance, Starfire, Firefly, Maplewing, Dusk, Quicksilver, ]
[ Memoire_Musique, Mimic, Scope, Red_Velvet, Pinkie_Pie, ]
[ Aurichalcum, EconomistBrony, Twilight_Sparkle, Spike, Nettleglum,]
[ Solar_Eclipse, Derpy ]
[ Sleepers: Thunderlane ]
[ Contents: Ribbons and Bows, Skymaster set, Cupcake ATM ]

Dynamite_Rave has arrived.

...ough the portal. "That's sweet, Rave. I'll be sure and give it the ol' schoolfilly oneover. But, uh... no ice cream at this party. Sorry to disappoint. Ice cream is Dinky death. The filly seems to be in a much better mood now. She looks around and sees Sugarvube Corner packed with friends and well-wishers. "Well, what do you #&@$%* know."

[Derpy]

Red_Velvet nuzzles Derpy in return and chuckles a little to herself at this, and feeling she should explain a bit what her gift means she shakes her head with a gentle smile, "No Derpy, my dear. You misunderstand. My gift is the granting of one wish, anything you may want or hope for. Oh I don't have as much power as the crown does to grant boons. But my company is quite large, and I have a lot of pull all around Equestria. If something you wish is within my power to give. That is my gift to you and one for Dinky as well, be it anything as small as a toy from a local shop, to a trip someplace exotic, to a full scholarship to the school of your choice. You have but to ask."

<OOC> Spike is hard to get drunk! He burns off the alcohol pretty fast.
<OOC> Memoire_Musique gives Spike a barrel of superalcohol... It's 400 proof.
<OOC> Spike sneezes, leveling the entire block.

"Yeah, told you." Dynamite Rave says as he trots out of the portal with Dinky, his body smoking from the warm contrails of his magic. "Birthday girl is here!" He calls out joyously as he heads back over to Eclipse and Twilight with a proud smile on his face.

Memoire_Musique perks up from her perch on Pinkie's back! She knows that voice!!! She tries to direct Pinkie towards... Oooooh! A word she doesn't know! "#&@$%*!" she exclaims, trying it out... "#&@$%*? #&@$%* #&@$%* #&@$%*!" she babbles innocently.

Derpy slowly takes in what Red is offering her. Her smile grows steadily until its signs are seen all over her body. "Is GRANT wish?" A new laugh follows, this one like a yellow frog being tossed between animate, fun-loving marsh reeds. She steps forward into a hug for Red Velvet, and a pat on the head for Memmy, too.

Derpy somehow manages to reach Memoire even while she's cursing and on the wrong pony's back.

Solar_Eclipse's eyes are completely black for a few long moments, though fade back to normal as his shadow returns and his horn stops glowing. He grins to the returning pair and waves, "Oh hey, you guys made it."

The magic around Mimic's horn disappears with a poof as the portal appears in the shop and leaves the crystal pony tipping her head in consideration. "Huh. Note to self." She mumbles from where she stands somewhere between a platter of sprinkled cookies and a bowl of hard candy. For once, the shimmery chartreuse pony about blends with the surroundings, it's all so bright.

Pinkie_Pie gallops around the newly arrived Dinky in a circle, a swearing filly on her back. "Hello! Hello! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

<OOC> Dusk puts some magic crystal candles on Chance's next birthday cake. :-)
<OOC> Maplewing says, "Magic Crystal (meth) Candles?"
<OOC> Spike Just can't get enough of those blue crystals.
<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle says, "Made by Wither White, AKA Heisenpony."
<OOC> Chance says, "Are they edible? O.o"
<OOC> Dusk says, "Silver actually. And not normally. But maybe for dragons. Not sure what side effects might have. :-)"
<OOC> Chance thinks one side effect would be chipped teeth..
<OOC> Dusk says, "Well he can eat rubies and diamonds and such too."

Dinky pops through a magical portal gash, courtesy of Dynamite Rave, and takes in who's here. Then Pinkie Pie hogs her field of vision. "Uh. Hi. Hi! Yeah. Hi, everyone. How're you doing?"

Red_Velvet nods and her own smile grows wider as she accepts the hug and gives the mailmare a hug of her own, "Yes, darling. Is grant wish. I a so glad you are pleased with it. It was quite hard determining just how to wrap something so...esoteric." She then turns as the birthday filly herself arrives and stomps her hooves in applause, "Happy Birthday Dinky!"

Nettleglum looms over Dinky with a chilly cordiality. "Miss Dinky, many happy returns of the day, dear."

Aurichalcum grins. "The birthday filly herszelf, I preszume. Happy birthday!"

Dynamite_Rave gives a grin over to Eclipse. "Yeah, all in a day's work." He leans in against his best friend, chillaxing.

Derpy hears a voice she knows. She finishes hugging Red Velvet and turns slowly toward... "DINKY!!" Flying loopiloy over to bridge the four yards between them, Derpy goes to hug her daughter. "Have ARRIVE! Are SAFE! Was worried!" A tear forms and doesn't quite drop from the mailmare's eye. "Was worried."

Twilight_Sparkle perks up. "THERE'S the birthday girl." She gives Rave a kiss on the nose, for his valiancy.

Dynamite_Rave finds his ears twitching and a small heart of fire pops free of his horn, floating about his head in a playful orbit.

Dragonfly has arrived.
Dragonfly comes in along as well and wing waves to folks!

Solar_Eclipse rolls his eyes at Dyna's antics, but grins amusedly, shaking his head. He smiles to Dinky and gives her another wave, but figures she's probably overwhelmed now with all the greetings so figures he'll let everypony get they're say in before annoying.

Memoire_Musique starts to gnaw on Pinkie's ears, growing swiftly bored of swearing.

Dinky mmmf! She lets her mother hug her, though her eyes, visible for a split second, show something like horror. And not because Nettleglum wished her many happy returns. She weakly hugs her mother back.

Chance wanders into the room and whuffles in greeting to all.
Starfire flits over to Chance and noses him a hello. "Glad you could make it, I saved us a table over yonder."

Derpy releases her daughter after about ten seconds and a few kisses on the top of her mountain-wispy mane. "So glad to see. Will have so much ~fun!~ So much fun!!" She throws out her wings and goes sailing on a breeze from an open window, skimming Chance and smacking lightly into Dynamite. "Security! Thank you so many for saving and finding my daughter." She's about to kiss him, but settles for a hoofbump instead.

Red_Velvet smiles and trots across to stand next to the other ponies, giving Memoire's own ear a light little tweak with her magic, "Memmy, hon. As sweet as Miss Pie is I am certain she would rather not have her ears chewed upon. How would you feel if somepony chewed yours?" She was teasing the foal of course. Then her attention turns to Princess Sparkle and she bows to one knee, So sorry Majesty, I did not see you there." Red struggles however not to giggle at Derpy's antics.

Dusk comes in through the door to the SCC, hovering a black and white wrapped gift, looking around. He is amazed, "So many ponies! Happy Birthday!" he calls out. He magics the gift over to the table and sees lots of friends here! He greets ponies here and there, going over by Chance and Starfire, "Greeings! Dear Mirage is over visiting Lady Screenplay over at the hospital currently."

Dynamite_Rave was totally geared up for a kiss! He gives Derpy a hoofbump in return, followed by a grin as he leans in to give her a nuzzle. "No problem ma'am. It's my duty to protect and serve." He winks to her before he gives Eclipse a nudge forward. "By the way, he's dating your daughter." The wheels on the bus go round and round.

Starfire smiles and nods to Dusk, making an awwww sound. "What happened? Is she near due?"

"Now, Miss Dinky-- you asked for something special for a treat, so, I made a batch of Mother's Petit Fours..." As before, the mere mention of these by Nettie causes a crescendo of dramatic lightnings outside of Sugarcube Corner. Which is probably preferable to a lightning strike /inside/ Sugarcube Corner, at least. Nettleglum seems oblivious to the audience cue that something less than safe is in progress.

<OOC> Firefly says, "SOmeone wants a lightning strike inside?? OOOhhhh. >"

Memoire_Musique gets dragged back onto Velvet. "Wanna go juice! Wanna juice!" she demands... But she demands quietly. Then Dynamite Rave catches her attention. Her babbling trails off as she stares up at the big, fiery stallion. She squeaks and hides on Velvet's back.

Derpy grins and nuzzles happily. Then she looks between Solar Eclipse and Dinky. And looks back. And her face gets darker. And darker. And grimmer. Back and forth she looks. But then she shakes her head and her countenance is delighted again. "Oh. I knew that!" she chimes.

Luna has arrived.

<OOC> Spike says, "Speaking of darker and grimmer."
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie dun dun DUNNNN
<OOC> Luna says, "PIFFLE, we say. We are here to PARTY."
<OOC> Memoire_Musique gasps. Iss LUNA!
<OOC> Firefly notifies the local authorities and disaster recovery teams.
<OOC> Nettleglum has but one life to give to the party. ._. And gave it already.

Firefly waves to LUna, having reserved a table for her just in case. "MIlady."

Well, technically, Solar Eclipse is betrothed to her? Or was? Eclipse honestly is a bit lost on the whole situation now. He just looks over as Nettle says something about making snacks, remembering the skittering cookies she made that one time. Crunchy, but hard to catch. He then glances back to the others and perks before making his way over to Dinky. "Sssooooooo," he says to her, "Um, how're you?"

Dinky is a little nervous about the petit fours now, she has to confess. "Um. Great. Great! Um, thanks for coming, Miss Nettleglum." She faces Dusk, Dragonfly, Red, Firefly. "Good to see you. I mean, this kind of thing may be dumb as dirt, but... I mean, it's good to know I'm not as unpopular as Quasar or something. That's worth a knock or two, right?" She walks over to the refreshment table and looks it over. "Uh... why are the petit fours padlocked?"

Mimic still lingers on the outskirts, seeming content to muse over the crowd, though Dynamite's congratulations brings a slow shake to her head. "Still saving the day, huh?" She calls over to the guardsstallion as she pops one of the sprinkled cookies in her mouth.

<OOC> Luna says, "Well, that's obviously MY cue."
<OOC> Starfire says, "Boom goes the dynamite."

Dusk shakes his head to Starfire, "Not near due. As I understand, Lady Screenplay has just recently given birth to a colt." He chuckles a little.

Dynamite_Rave gives a grin over to Mimic as he trots over to his classmate, then leans in to bump his shoulder against hers. "Hey crystal." He chuckles as he drapes a forehoof about her shoulders. "Still saving the day. I'm the man, what can I say? How you doing? Here for the cake?"

Quasar has arrived.

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "NEEERRRRRD!"
<OOC> Scope pummels Solar.
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse steals Quasar's lunchmoney.
<OOC> You say, "Uh-oh."
<OOC> Dinky caves to peer pressure and wedgies Quasar. Somehow.
<OOC> Quasar gets beat up and made fun of. He accepts this because he's a chubby loser. Now he has invisible undies up his buttcrack. Woe. Woe.

Memoire_Musique drops down off of Red's back and starts to creep through the crowd. Dun dun DUNAH! She sneaks her way towards Dyna... Reaching out, she quietly tags one of his legs, then runs to hide behind one of the curtains.

<OOC> Mimic opens the locker for someone to stuff him into it?

Luna waltzes (she's not actually waltzing) in the front door like any regular customer, albeit she has to duck her head so her horn doesn't scrape the top of the doorway. A gleaming ebony case engraved with silver stars is strapped to one flank like a saddle bag, and the moment she's in the door she extends her wings and booms, "CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THY BIRTH! Ooh, what is that heavenly aroma?" She trots on over to the desserts as casually as if she hadn't just subjected the whole party to gale force winds and a voice so penetrating all the dishware bounced around on the tables.

Dinky gets too close to the silver serving dome. The petit fours stir beneath it. A ping. Something dings off the inside of the dome. Another. A thin, high-pitched shriek. It's the noise of a baby xenomorph dipped in velvety chocolate. And it's echoed by many, many more, as the dome begins to wobble. Nettleglum looks proud. "Oh, I just wanted to make sure they were fresh for your arrival, dear."

Red_Velvet smiles at the tiny foal on her back and nods, "You want orange juice Memmy? Miss Pinkie Pie, I wonder if I might trouble you? Little Memmy has taken an inordinate fondness to orange juice. Do you perchance have some here?" The agent then looks about and realizes her little passenger has made her escape, "Um...I suppose the point is moot now. Sorry Miss Pie."

Mimic oofs at the leg is draped over her shoulders, though she sees used to it and just shakes her head. "I'm just fine. I hadn't actually even realized there was cake until I poked my head in. I've been trying to learn more about Ponyville since I have Canterlot pretty well covered and figured.. well.. a party is a good place to...er, take notes." She says with a faint grimace forming, as if realizing how dumb that sounded but was at a loss of what else to say.

Dusk chuckles at Dinky's comment and nods, "At least one or two, yes. And good to see you too, Miss Dinky. Have missed you down at the Center. But then I suppose you haven't had all the best of luck so far either." He grins.

Quasar trots in after Luna slowly, as if starstruck to have caught her landing outside as he was heading towards the Cube. His eyes widen and his mouth forms an 'O' as he stares longingly. He has his present for Dinky on his back. It's wrapped in bright green wrapping paper. ".. wow.." He breathes out, then steps forward and finds himself ramming his nose right into the door frame. Bonk. "Ow!" He winces as he clutches his nose, then angles himself in. After putting the present on the table, he shyly ducks in to a table by himself, chewing his bottom lip.

<OOC> Dusk hooves Quasar on calling it The Cube too. He lost Derpy on that one before.
<OOC> Derpy not remember. u.n
<OOC> Scope has always called it the S.C.C.
<OOC> Derpy says, "SCC stand for... Semi-Crunchy Caramel."
<OOC> Dusk guesses she's still lost then. :-)
<OOC> Derpy says, "Hyypercube?"
<OOC> Dusk says, "For Pinkie? Yes."
<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle says, "Is it about my cube? o.o"
<OOC> Dusk says, "Explains much."
<OOC> Quasar beams. "Does that mean I'm cool?"
<OOC> Dinky doesn't know what the antecendent here is, but no, Quasar. It doesn't.
<OOC> Quasar scuffs his hoof on the ground. "Aw horseapples."
<OOC> Dusk says, "As cool as a research professor? :-) Minus the knowledge or skills or prestige or.. Well. Close enough."
<OOC> Quasar is ranked third in math and science high honors and academics in Fillydelphia and is only 10 :/
<OOC> Dusk is bigger! So.. :-P *chuckle* :-)
<OOC> Dinky isn't addicted to getting C's. She can get B's and even A's when she wants to.

Derpy finds herself covered in strawberry hard candies and surrounded by napkins, and realizes her mane and gaudy sheer paisley dress are all out of place. It can only be a disaster, or Luna! Derpy stands, delighted to find that it's the latter. "More Princess!!" she exclaims, gliding forth. "So many party perk! Good to see." Then she lands and bows just as perfectly and as eyelashily eyesclosed as she did earlier for Twilight.

Solar_Eclipse's mane blows back as Hurricane Luna makes her greeting. He blinks a few times saying, "Grandma!" in his cheerful, greeting voice.

Nettleglum steps aside for her monarch and quickly falls in alongside her. "Your highness."

After a few minutes of the door being left open Luna's escort finally arrives, albeit looking rather.. annoyed. Decked out in his Lunar Knight armor, Scope steps through the entranceway and with a flash of magic shuts it behind him, quietly stepping to the side and taking point beside the door with a rather ungraceful flop onto his rump, amber eyes scanning the rather crowded bakery.

Twilight_Sparkle raises her head, and smiles to the lankier princess. "It's good to see you, Luna!" Her omission of the elder princess's title feels casual but is striking nonetheless.

Dinky nods weakly to Dusk. She looks up at him, sizing something up. And very briefly, she nuzzles his knee. She's spares further sentiment by the arrival of Luna, and then of Quasar, either of whom might well upset the balance she assumes exists on some level. Dinky is blown head over hocks by the Royal Canterlot Voice. She looks up with her hair hugely frazzled (though part of that was the song Rave sang her) and regards Luna. "Yeah. Thanks. I made it to ten, somehow."

Red_Velvet lowers her head and drops down to one knee as Luna appears, "Greetings Princess Luna." Red actually seems more then a little nervous now that the lunar diarch has arrived...it may well be fear in her eyes as she drops them to the floor.

Dinky nods weakly to Dusk. She looks up at him, sizing something up. And very briefly, she nuzzles his knee. She's spares further sentiment by the arrival of Luna, and then of Quasar, either of whom might well upset the balance she assumes exists on some level. Dinky is blown head over hocks by the Royal Canterlot Voice. She looks up with her hair hugely frazzled (though part of that was the song Rave sang her) and regards Luna. "Yeah. Thanks. I made it to ten, somehow."

"Psh, you don't take notes here. You party. Get up and mingle. Meet some new friends. Dance around. Get a bit tipsy. Make out with someone that you just learned their name." Dynamite Rave says, then finds his leg poked. He glances down to see Memoire scampering away, then raises a brow upwards. "So, yeah.. anyways.. Yo, Scope!" He waves a hoof towards his big brother. "Nice to see you man!"

Luna tucks the tip of a silver-shod hoof under Derpy's chin, nudging her upwards. "Thou of all ponies need show not humble thyself to the crown." She has much to do, however, and keeps walking past the Dreamy Eyed Mare, past the timid Red Velvet, and instead lifts a giant wing over the crowd to wave at Twilight. "Well met, Princess Twilight Sparkle, for the moon and stars are sisters in the night." She keeps trotting, sniffing the air, and walks right up to where Dinky stood before the Royal Canterlot Voice hit. Her shapely blue muzzle wanders over the silver dome, and Luna looks up, her face rapt with wonder as she asks, "Nettleglum, are these...?"

"Uh." Mimic begins as her ears tip back hesitantly. "I've never..er...I've never partied." She says with a shamed clearing of her throat with a nervous glance one way and then the other as if someone might have heard her. "...wasn't really in my j-- well. I just didn't. We didn't have a reason to." Says the crystal unicorn with a sigh as she turns her eyes to regard the two monarchs old and new. Yah. She'd rather not embarrass herself in front of royalty.

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "We have 50% of the princesses here. We demand the appearance of the other two!"

Celestia has arrived.

Dusk blinks and looks at Dinky, surprised perhaps just for a moemnt, but smiles warmly as she gives him a little nuzzle, reaching a hoof to give her a pat.. just as Luna arrives and blows ponies back a ways with the force of her royal voice. He comes to a stop, and his mane falls back into its usual state. He clears his throat and gives a proper bow in greeting before getting back to the partying.

"Well, tonight you're partying." Dynamite Rave says to Mimic as he holds out a hoof, then says in a whispered hush. "Parties. Parties /everywhere/. As far as the eye can see." He waves his hoof forward in an arch through the air before them. "Now get some punch in you, and go meet someone new. See the bouncy pink one? That's the most partiest pony in Equestria. She knows how to throw down with streamers and confetti."

Sugar_Rush has arrived.

Derpy's head is easily raised. Her mane falls naturally into its spiky yet somehow straight form, no longer frazzled, and the same is true of her face. "Not humbowl?" she asks, her eyes rotating even after Luna walks by her. She shakes her head and tries to work out what to do next. The task manager in Derpy's head eventually clicks, and Derpy rushes over to the big sign sitting against the wall at the back of the room. She spins it around and places it carefully on an easel. "Are so many fun thing to do!!" she announces.

Angel has arrived.

Angel slips in and makes his way to the food table.

Nettleglum twitches in a ghastly spasm that's probably perking. "Oh, yes, of course, your highness. Miss Dinky asked that I make them for her party-- it was a little hard getting that much Strontium on short notice, but, how could I refuse a birthday wish?"

At the sound of his name, Scope's ear flicks once with his head turning to glance in the direction from whence it came. Spotting Rave, all the younger stallion receives in greeting from the guard is a sharp nod of hello, then his eyes turn away to resume keeping watch over the gathering of ponies.

Solar_Eclipse blinks a few times. Well Dinky seems extra busy. He briefly gives up on getting a word in. He smiles at the others but finds himself growing quiet, almost nervous with so many ponies around. He takes a step or two back to a corner where the shadows quickly thicken around him as they usually do when he's apprehensive.

Quasar reaches out with a hoof to gently poke at Eclipse's shoulder, then offers him a chair to sit next to him. Dork table over here. Represent. "Oh, hey Solar Eclipse. This is.. really cool. I can't believe Dinky has two princesses show up to her party. She's so cool." He mumbles softly to his fellow classmate.

Red_Velvet seems to have managed to pay Princess Luna the respect due her, without gaining the royal's attention. She stands once more and takes a few steps backward, positioning herself out of the way. It's not really that she fears the royal sisters now, but she still struggles with the idea that a changeling used her likeness to deceive everypony, the princesses included. And the affair with The Velvet Rope club only made things all the more awkward...

Derpy's sign reads:
===================
LIST OF AGENDA
1. Snaxs
2. Block stack!
3. Say Nice To Dinky.
4. Truth or Hair.
5. Cake!
6. Gifts open.
7. Pin Yatta!!
8. Bon Fire.
===================

Aurichalcum examines the sign. Hmmm.

Dinky finds hersalf blown back several yards. She also sees that Luna is preoccupied with whatever monstrosity (or 'snaxs') Nettleglum's ancestors managed to concoct for her. So she slinks into the shadows and finds herself next to Solar Eclipse. "Oh. You're here!" She exhales, perhaps in relief, or some such strange emotion.

<OOC> Dusk says, "Makes that 8. Bon Fire / Cleanup. Standard MRC procedure."

Spike climbs up on Twilight's back, so he can see something more than legs, tails, and cutie marks in the crowd.

<OOC> Pinkie_Pie thinks Spike is waaay too young if he doesn't appreciate a room full of legs, tails and cutie marks.

Aurichalcum is fascinated with the prospect of Block Stack.

Sugar_Rush trots into the store, saddlebags full and smelling sweet. "Say, did I hear there was a party going on here?"

<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle looks delighted. "Celestia!"

Angel has left.

"...pah. Alright, alright. I'll give it a try." Mimic says with a slow shake of her head and a rueful smile as she bumps her shoulder into Dynamite's. "But if I make a fool of myself I'm blaming you. I know where you sleep." She says, narrowing her eyes in mock warning before the crystal unicorn steps out from behind the snack tables and towards the central portion of the room with her eyes roving to look for this pink party specialist.

Pinkie_Pie says "You sure did, Sugar Rush! C'mon in! Cake and party games! o/~"

<OOC> Luna says, "Celly, you totes have to hang with your one and only special student. *I* have a party game already in mind."
<OOC> Firefly says, "Splode that POny?"
<OOC> Derpy invites Luna to scrawl her game idea in on the list somewhere.

Derpy wheels a big tray prepared by the Cakes ahead of time into the room. She accidentally smacks into Sugar Rush, knocking the towers of spongy cakes and gelatin blocks and cinnamon minibuns and orange tarts down, and some of them land on his mane, "Oop," she says, eyes spinning. "Pony!!!" she exclaims, waving her leg. "Is time for snacktime!! Have all the marvel your stomach acid desire."

Memoire_Musique starts waddling through the guests, snagging a snack here, hugging a pony there.

"Yeah, I sleep at the library now more these days." Dynamite says cooly to Mimic with a rising smirk upon his face. As he watches her head off, he trots over to Scope and flops down next to him, leaning into his shoulder as he gives his big brother a grin.

Aurichalcum perks up. Ooh, this looks delicious. He searches the trays for the eggiest custard he can find and grabs three, one in each right hand.

<OOC> Derpy notes that none of the treats contain dairy or chocolate.
<OOC> Nettleglum 's petit fours are made with fine Germaneigh chocolate. ._. If you can catch one.
<OOC> Derpy not have vetted those!

A Princess is never late - even when two other Princesses have arrived before her. Seriously, look it up. Then you have to determine which Princess Granger Causes the other to determine when it is time for the -PARTY- to have -STARTED-! A polite knock emenates from the bakery's doorway. After Sugar Rush enters, however, the Princess of Equestria and Guardian of the Sun decides it's probably alright for her to enter as well. Led, of course, by four gold-armored guards bearing her crest - two of which stand at the doorway and two of which take up strategic positions throughout the baker. It's only then that Celestia makes her not-so-subtle entrance. "I hope I'm not intruding, but I heard a very special young pony is having a birthday.

Pinkie_Pie's eyes alight on the enormous feast of -- "DESSERTS!" she squeals, flying through the air to land facefirst in the stax of snax. Her hind legs wobble feebly in the air, sticking straight up.

Spike's tongue shoots out and rescues a cinnamon bun in mid-fall, yanking it back into his snout. "Mmm."

<OOC> Spike may actually be Purple Yoshi.

Firefly ooohs and eyes Nettleglum's treats.

Luna places a hoof atop the dome covering the dish of petit fours. Rearing up, she waves her other and declares (she spares the Royal Canterlot Voice - she's just being loud), "WE CLAIM NOW THESE DELICIOUS SAVORIES IN THE NAME OF THE THRONE!" The upraised hoof casually lowers to stick right in Pinkie's face, blocking her as Luna grabs hold of the handle of the cover with her teeth, rips it free of the plate, and tosses it aside! Then her head lunges into the mass of chocolate like a striking heron! Why? Because she's eaten these before and knows what's about to happen.

Red_Velvet considers trying some of the ever so sinfully sweet treats that seem to practically rain down from the mishap, finally using her magic to catch a lemon tart on a plate she floats it over to herself above the heads of the other ponies. Trying to remain out of the very messy debacle.

Aurichalcum ducks into a corner of the room. Mm, custard.

Sugar_Rush smiles, "Well, it is a good thing I brought these!" He opens his saddlebags, and starts unloading small brightly-colored paper bags, filled with a selections of candies. There are chocolates, jelly beans, gum drops, gummy bears, lemon drops, and apple fruit leather in each bag. "Help yourselves, folks!"

Stuff is going on apparently. Eclipse glances over to Quasar and grins as his shoulder is tapped. "Hey there. Yeah, lots of love here. And, uh..apparently it's three of them now." Of course for him it's not too different. He lives with two of the crazy princesses, this is pretty much every dinner he's ever had for the past year or two. Usually it's followed by a rousing game of Wall Sumo. As Dinky settles in beside him he looks to her and chuckles "I said hi a couple of times but I think you've been distracted. Is it overwhelming?" he wonders.

Berry Punch, who arrived when you weren't looking, takes a pirouette cookie and crunches it with satisfaction. She then holds it like a cigar in her mouth and looks at Auri, beside her at the dessert tray. "So, uh... what are you?" Then Luna makes a commotion and she crunches the cookie up reflexively.

Celestia suddenly finds herself next to Luna as she claims aforementioned 'delicious savories' for the throne. "AHEM," the Princess clears her throat. "Excuse me, my most beloved sister, but I believe yo- AHA! MINE!" the Princess immediately dives her head in towards the writhing mass of chocolatey deliciousness.

Petit fours! The delicate little squares of chocolate and pastry /screeek/ like all of Jurassic Park in a silver serving dish and make a break for it! They are hideously loud for their size and move like greased polecats. Individually, they are not that dangerous, but... they do hunt in packs.

Pinkie_Pie flails her forehooves in the air, feebly trying to get closer to the tray. Her face is completely flattened against Luna's outstretched hoof.

"Wooooow..." Quasar trails off as he stares openly at the sight of Princess freaking Celestia walking in. His jaw unhinges and he just /stares./ ".. She's so beautiful.." As the two sisters start attacking the desserts, he looks dumbfounded for a moment before he clears his throat and looks back to Eclipse and Dinky. "Dinky, you're the coolest kid in school. I bet no one will come to my party. You have three princesses. Can I be your lab partner?" He asks hopefully.

<OOC> Nettleglum is tempted to spoof Cadence staring in the back window, in the rain. ._.
<OOC> Luna says, "Celly, I change my mind. Nettleglum has to get the part of Cadence."
<OOC> Celestia says, "And it isn't even raining anywhere else in Ponyville!"

Apple_Bloom has arrived.
Sweetie_Belle has arrived.

Spike stares at the desserts. The strange, scurrying desserts. Some instinct clicks inside him and he jumps off Twilight's back and hunkers down on all fours, reptilian eyes tracking the nearest one as he creeps towards it.

Dinky nods to Eclipse. "Couldn't hear you. This is crazy." She gestures to Luna, pigging out on the desserts Nettleglum brought especially for her. And Celestia is apparently here now, with her armored guards. "Wow. Just, wow. This is insane. Hey!" She steps from the shadows and speaks up to get the princesses' attention. "You two know you CAN'T just destroy this building, right? It's, like, historical. At least, since the last Parasprite attack or whatever." Apparently she has higher expectations for the behavior of her sovereigns. As for Quasar... she just glaares at him. And shrugs. "Sure, whatever. When did you come in?"

One of the newly arrived guards finds himself standing right next to a unicorn wearing the armor and mark designating him to be a guard of the Mistress of the Night, and after a brief staredown a look of recognition comes over both of them. Celestia's guard steps back and snaps to, giving Scope a quick salute before moving off and finding another spot to stand guard.

Red magic floats one of the sponge cakes towards a more grim fate than the floor - a Mimic. She chews on the confection as her eyes regard the Princesses bobbing for enrobed horrors and the pink pony she suspects Dynamite mentioned. Having no wish to tangle in that mess, she instead stands and watches instead and still overall at a loss of how she's supposed to be partying. Socializing is *hard*.

Aurichalcum tries to catch Spike's attention and point him to the custard tarts.

Twilight_Sparkle is many things. And one of them is Equestria's foremost expert on teleportation spells. With nary a sound, and a flash you'll only see if you're looking straight at it, the pile of brownies is teleported over to her and Spike. She lifts one--ONE, because that is the polite number--into the air, and nibbles it, like a princess/nerd ought to.

Quasar rubs his nose a bit, then ducks his head a bit as he withers under her glare. ". Um.. I .. came in after Princess Celestia.. um.. I.. can leave if you don't want me here." He says softly as he stares at the ground a bit harder now.

Luna's head rears back up above the crowd with a block of chocolate wriggling in her teeth. She opens her mouth again to suck it down, and instead it braces against her teeth and LEAPS into the air - only to be caught as Luna's pearly white tongue lashes out, wrapping around it and yanking it into her mouth! "MMM!" she moans in delight, if it can be heard over the muffled shrieking, squealing, and - is that swearing? - from the petit four itself.

<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "So much activity. Ah hope ah kin fawnd a good place t'pose in. So we kin mug Dinky and take away her pets."
<OOC> Nettleglum says, "Moonlight/Moonlight/ Bedbugs creep/ Clap your hooves/ and try not to sleep."
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle says, "It's her birthday, Apple Bloom! Be nice!"
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle will sing the birthday song!
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle says, "Loudly. And repeatedly"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "We have t'be nawce to'er?!"
<OOC> Luna says, "Being mean to Dinky while three princesses are in the room is PROBABLY not the smartest thing a pony could do."

Red_Velvet is peacefully enjoying her lemon tart, when at her hooves she hears the shriek of two of the little Nettie-spawned-abominations and she turns to flee the chocolate deserts.

Dynamite_Rave gives Scope a nudge with his hoof, then waves to the other guard for a moment before he chuckles. "This is ridiculous. I think we're gonna set a record on how many ponies we can shove into one building. I bet if we lock the door and I set the wall on fire, we'd also set the record on the most.." He trails off for a moment. Well, maybe that's a bit too dark. "So, hey, we gonna hug the wall all night aren't we?"

Derpy is looking forward to indulging in the snacks she just brought in. Unfazed by the scurrying chocomonsters on the floor (her monster adrenaline reserve was depleted, remember?) she's about to pick up and enjoy a triple ginger brownie when--oops! The tray disappears in a pulse of magic. Derpy derps, frozen in place while her eyes spin at different rates and she processes this disaster.

Memoire_Musique huddles up on top of a shelf, ... or she would be... Living chocolate creatures? If they're still around when she starts moving, they're gettin' a HUNGRY FILLY chasing them!

Spike pounces at one of the petite fours, lassoing it with his tongue. He sits up on his haunches with the squealing, struggling dessert held in his fangs...suddenly not sure what to do, like a cat that's caught a mouse and isn't sure how to dispatch it.

"Yeah it's..." Eclipse starts but Dinky starts yelling at the deities, so he just blinks a few times. He looks over to Quasar and smiles, "I'm sure she didn't mean it like that, Quas. Stay. Have some ca...um...have some...of whatever's left. Ok there's not going to be much left...

Sugar_Rush watches the rampaging goodies. "Um...should I bother to ask what is going on?"

Chance wanders around with Starfire, saying hi to everypony. He pauses to watch Spike, giving a light grin and chuckle.

Firefly waits till one of the little things tuns past her and karate chops it with a wingtip, then eats it.

Pinkie_Pie starts trotting after one of the mobile brownies, curious. The brownie scuttles away from her. She follows. Soon the two are circling the edges of the party.

Nettleglum hopes they finish all the Petit fours. ._. They do not make good leftovers-- they tend to rattle around inside of the walls and floor for a few weeks, preying on small rodents and whatnot.

"I am.", Scope replies with a snort, nose flaring a little before he shoots a glare to the red stallion right next to him. "It is your decision as to whether or not you choose to, and if you do choose to then find another place to stand." And with that his eyes snap forward once again, the grey unicorn going still with his horn aglow.

Memoire_Musique whoops and chases the Petite Fours, fives, and sixes! All of them! "WOOHOO! WOOHOO! MEMMY GOOD!" she hollers. She aims to impact one of the brownies, tackling it!

Starfire smiles to ponies here and there, sticking beside Chance, moreso when the snacks go wild.

Berry Punch stamps on one of the petit fours with a determined look and the top of her tongue sticking out. It splatters over her hoof and surrounding fetlocks. "I got one! I got one!!" she exults. Then she frowns, even more unsure than Spike how to proceed. She shrugs and takes one of the dairy-free custard tarts.

Red_Velvet has disconnected.

"Ha. As if. I'm sitting right here, next to you, my big brother. I'm a big boy guard now if you forgot." Dynamite Rave says as he strikes a similar pose to Scope as he puffs out his chest, shoulders squared back and settled in against the wall in his Twilight armor. His horn even briefly glows to cast the cloning spell upon him, though a smirk still toys along his muzzle.

Celestia has only subdued one of the chocolate demons before getting entirely distracted from the dessert and instead trots over to her student and newly-minted Princess cohort. Seriously, she's worth like four Cadences. "It is good to see you again, Twilight," the Princess dips her head politely to the fellow pointy purple pony Princess. "I-" the Princess is interrupted by Dinky's warning to cause no property damage tonight. A warm smile graces her expression before she leans over to plant a tender kiss on the birthday girl's forehead. "I shall make sure of it."

<OOC> Nettleglum says, "The Cadence scale. How many Cadences is that princess worth? Twlight Sparkle= Four Cadences."
<OOC> Luna is worth at LEAST 1.2 Cadences.
<OOC> Twilight_Sparkle says, "Hey now. If we start formally rating princesses...I predict bad things for Equestria."
<OOC> Nettleglum says, "Prince Blueblood= Half a Cadence. The back half."
<OOC> Celestia says, "Isn't Cadence's better half the back half, Nettie?"
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie says, "I can cofirm Celestia's ass-essment."
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "IT's not hard t'give princesss orders. Y'all walk up to'em in a business-like way and yell at'em. Then y'all give'em a case o'apple vodka."
<OOC> Celestia had the economist brony open a Princess market based on the Cadence unit of currency. Prices vary across the day, and you can buy options to hedge. Nettie trims the hedge daily.
<OOC> Nettleglum leverages Cadences. Into open graves.
<OOC> Celestia always knew Nettie bought the farm on margin.

Luna having caught her petit four starts to chew. The squealing doesn't stop. Her chewing does slow down, bite by bite, and the princess stares as if she's working hard. Then... BANG! BANG! BANG! Her head recoils from side to side, and the petit four cannonballs out of her mouth again, only to have Luna lunge forward and bite down on it again!

Dinky nods sternly. "Yeah, good. Thanks. See that you d--do." She catches herself giving orders to the high ruler of the land, but shrugs it off. Birthday, right? Dinky stares at Luna and tilts her head.

Spike frowns, deciding he just can't do this. It's too much like eating another living thing, and he...well, sharp teeth or no, he was raised by ponies. He gently sets the treat back down on the floor and watches it scurry away.

Berry Punch starts tracking the petit four Pinkie is after from the other direction. Together, they'll chase it down!

And with that, Scope has had enough. Giving a signal to the guard he chased off earlier, he relieves himself of his post and steps around Rave and pushes himself through the door to the establishment and takes a post outside.

Scope has left.

Dragonfly looks at Spike, then STOMPS! the treat, "Laddie, ye can't be taking no scoff from yer vittles!" then scoops it up anmd chomps it happily.

Quasar blinks his eyes a few times at Eclipse, then says, "Oh, well.. I don't want to.. um.. lower the standards of the party with my presence." He says softly with a sigh. "I know this is probably the most popular party of the year and if word gets out the biggest loser is here then other ponies at school may discredit how cool it is." He chews his bottom lip for a moment. Social ladders are hard to climb.

Mimic watches one of the semi-sentient treats scamper past and raises up a brow as she regards it. "Hmm..." Getting the idea they're all frantically scampering around, she lowers her head as red aurora magic surrounds her horn. On the ground before her a perfect copy appears after a sparkle of red light and seems to follow the same running pattern as the one that just went past her, then again like a loop.

Spike stares at Dragonfly with a mix of embarrassment and horror.

Dinky touches Quasar on the shoulder. "No. Come on. Don't go. If this is the only party you'll be invited to all year, you might as well enjoy it, right?" She looks around at the mayhem. "Besides. Not like it has any dignity left to ruin, am I right?"

Sugar_Rush notes the attendance of royalty. He drops into a bow to the princesses.

When Dragonfly lifts his hoof, there's probably a petit four trying to chew on the end of it. These things are hard to... kill?

Pinkie_Pie makes sure no one is looking at her, then carefully nudges the walls out a little further to accomodate the massive crowd.

The door opens and it is apparently time for the Cutie Mark Crusaders (?) to make an appearance! Apple Bloom is first to show, but only because she's planted her feet down and is being pushed into the door by Sweetie Belle, calling upon her freakishly powerful strength to urge her friend into the party. "I don't care how you feel about it," Sweetie is saying to Bloom, "It's polite to go to her party and bring a gift that's not a barrel of Rotten Apples. I don't care HOW long you've been saving them for." Sweetie puffs out a breath or two once she gets inside and then slips over to the gift table and slides a box up onto it that, well, looks like she wrapped it.

Quasar glances up at Dinky with a hopeful look on his face. "I don't know. You have princesses fighting over desserts and almost every pony in town here to see /you/. I think it has plenty of dignity. This is awesome. No one in Fillydelphia even got this kind of treatment. Not even the rich kids. This may go down in the record books for best birthday party ever for a ten year old."

Solar_Eclipse stares at Quasar a moment, "Seriously, hang out. You're my friend too, so you should stay." He smiles a bit, "I'm pretty sure no one notices we're here anyways with all of that going on." He scrunches his nose amusedly. "Seriously, I don't think there's enough snacks."

Dinky actually smiles at that, though it's a twisted, bent-lipped smile. "You think? Hehahahahaaa." The idea's funny to her for some reason. "Best ever, huh? Wow. Because one thing I am -not- is a party pony." She looks around, deeply amused by it all. "But tell you what. Keep an eye on my rump in case I get a partying cutie mark, all right?" Dinky seems to enjoy ribbing Quasar.

Fluttershy has arrived.

<OOC> Nettleglum says, "Princess Fluttershy= Ten Cadences."
<OOC> Spike is 0.15 Smaugs.

But Apple Bloom is so stubborn. "Oh come on, surely we kin think of somethin' *better* t'do! Lawk kayakin'r somethin'!" Apple Bloom tries again to push back at Sweetie Belle. "How did y'all git so freakishly strong!?"

<OOC> Sweetie_Belle got so strong hauling around all of Rarity's camping gear.

Flushing, Quasar ducks his head and says, "I don't think it would be proper to stare at your rump, Dinky. I um.. I don't want to upset Eclipse because he's going out with you and it'd be weird because he's my friend and may get the wrong idea." Geez, why did she have to say that?! Now he's all flustered and embarrassed.

Derpy walks quietly over to Twilight Sparkle, who seems to have the plate of ginger brownies now. She clears her throat very elegantly and quietly.

Angel has arrived.

Luna clearly feels that tonight's litter of petit fours is extra good. She nods emphatically to Nettleglum to signal her approval, and goes back to chewing. Each chew is slow, the immortal power of her jaw grinding away, jerking slightly every couple of seconds but too strong to be shoved aside. Then the screaming inside her mouth stops. It's replaced by hissing, violent gurgling, and gooey brown liquid drips out of the corners of her mouth and her nose, hitting the floor and burning holes into the wood accompanied by the rich, creamy smell of cocoa.

Sharien has arrived.

Twilight_Sparkle smiles at Derpy, a little apologetically. "With the other princesses doing....whatever they were doing with the other pastries, I wanted to make sure the rest of us had some." She levitates a brownie for Derpy, helpfully.

Celestia duly notes to avoid any severe property damage beyond what is caused by a rotation of her hindquarters or the scraping of her horn against the ceiling, because tall. She returns to her rightful place at the non-birthday-cake table and begins discreetly consuming piece after piece after piece. Discreetly.

Dinky does stare at Quasar. At least it's with puzzlement rather than scorn. "Joke, Quasar. They're a thing." She discovers that even more ponies are here now, and wander until she runs into one at random. "Oh... Sugar Rush, right? How's it going. Alicorns, I just ca--" She stops short--maybe that isn't the best oath to use when three of them are present. "Uh, I can't believe so many ponies actually want to waste their time trying to cheer me up."

Twilight_Sparkle walks up beside her mentor. Discreetly.

"Be nice!" Sweetie tells her friend again. "She's our classmate and we should wish her a happy birth--do you smell Cocoa?" She asks. It's about that time she notices there's really a whole room full of princesses and ponies in here. She blinks once, looks to Apple Bloom and says, "I think we may be underdressed or something."

Memoire_Musique, smeared with chocolate from the petite four, cleans herself off on the tablecloth. The tiny filly looks around for somepony close to her size... Perfect! In a few moments, Spike might spot a chubby little filly toddling Straight. For. HIM!

<OOC> Pinkie_Pie assembles a small pillow fort around Fluttershy, from which she can peer out at the party, well protected, if she needs it.
<OOC> Nettleglum could use one of those. .-.
<OOC> Sugar_Rush sighs...
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie makes Nettie a fort of DARK OMINOUS pillows.
<OOC> Nettleglum lurks inside it with a comfy blankie.
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle is underdressed! She goes home and gets her wings.

Derpy grins and takes the magical brownie. Or magically lifted. Same difference. She chews it up, savors, and swallows. Then she nods, having accomplished item one. She goes to her sign and crosses off "1. Snaxs" with a with green marker. "Okay!" she announces, her tail in its green and silver ribbon spinning. "Is time for next event... BLOCK STAAACK!!"

[Derpy]

Solar_Eclipse gives his friend an odd look and chuckles. "He's just getting use to the humor thing, Dinky." He looks over at the somewhat craziness going on still and then when the next event is announced, he asks, "What's a Block Stack?" Surely it's not just stacking blocks, right?

Spike smiles amiably at the little filly making her way through the forest of pony legs. He waves, wiggling his fingers. "Hello!"

Celestia has consumed half a sheet cake. Discreetly.

The illusionary petit four Mimic created to scamper in a loop disappears in a puff of red. Oh yes. She'll have to mess with someone later. She instead turns her attention back towards the party, though still finding it, well, grouped. Hm. Her ears swivel towards Derpy as she speaks. Perhaps this will bring some unity back to the party?

Somewhere in the background, Fluttershy peeks out from behind the room's dining divider. "Oh! Um...Many happy returns, Dinky!" she squeaks, and then blows a little party favor. "...I hope I'm not late."

"Is it like Jenga? I like Jenga, but I always build cities with the blocks." Quasar says, then lifts a hoof to wave towards the Crusaders with a bright smile on his face. "Hey AB! Sweetie! Over here!" He nearly bounces on his hooves a bit happily.

<OOC> Pinkie_Pie really, really, really wants to play 'Truth or Hair', but is super tired and needs to scoot. Happy birthday Dinky Doodle!
<OOC> Spike says, "Night, Pinkie! Good to see you."

Dusk makes his way about the party, seeing of course all the royalty arriving, but always manages to stay out of the way even as he moves about openly and speaks with folks, just in the right place at the right time. He even casually gets an unclaimed snack left behind. There may be a faint glow from the gift pile, but only if not looking at it.

YES! It's just stacking blocks!! Derpy drags a big box of wooden, resin and even shiny colored aluminum blocks down the stairs from Pinkie's room. They tumble with a loud, party-distracting clatter and land all over the floor. There are a ~lot~ of them. "Is time for Block Stack," she repeats. "The rules? First to stack blocks ALL THE WAYS TO CEILING... IS WINNER!!" Up go the happy wings.

Apple Bloom sezes an opportunity to confuse Sweetie to see if she can get away. "Wah don't y'all go see if y'all kin fawnd th'cocoa?" Apple Bloom says, siezing her opportunity.

Memoire_Musique looks Spike up and down, her head bobbing to music... Then she very seriously points a hoof at herself... "Memmy." she says.

Pinkie_Pie has disconnected.
Scope has arrived.

The current pose order is: {Angel Aurichalcum Chance Firefly Starfire Dynamite_Rave Scope Dragonfly Sugar_Rush Nettleglum Luna Dinky Twilight_Sparkle Sweetie_Belle Solar_Eclipse Spike Celestia Mimic Fluttershy Quasar Dusk Derpy Apple_Bloom}.

Sweetie's waaaay ahead of Apple Bloom. Her friend ends up talking to the empty space she was standing. Sweetie is already popping up from behind the snack table looking at the goodies. She's about to get one when snack time ends. "Oh COME ON!" she calls out and dejectedly sits down a moment, somehow having ended up by Dinky. She looks over and perks up some, "Hi! Happy Birthday! Are we singing birthday songs yet?" Sweetie_Belle also peeks over to Quasar as he bounces up and down. She giggles and waves a hoof at him too, practically shouting across the room "HEY QUASAR!"

Mimic trots over amongst the hoard of blocks. Partying she's unsure, but, she's played some games. She gets that! One by one in a stream, she brings blocks in an array towards her and begins grabbing them up. Magic and her own hooves and mouth help to try and stack them all up in a challenging of careful balancing.

Celestia offers her mentee some cake, not so discreetly.

Dinky goes over to start putting one slippery metal block on top of another. She decides to use the wooden ones after a while. "Oh. Fluttershy. Hi. So, what is a happy return, anyway? I mean, isn't getting something and -not- returning it better? Probably I'm missing something fundamental." Her stack of blocks falls down. "Huh? Cities?" she says to Quasar. "Well, knock yourself out. Oh... oh &#$." It's them. The embodiment of all Dinky hates about other ponies. The Cutie Mark Crusaders. Mom even invited -them?!- Dinky looks at Apple Bloom and Sweetie with her mouth hanging open, speechless.

Twilight_Sparkle looks around, discreetly. Then scarfs it, less discreetly.

Yes! She's already distracted! Now all Apple Bloom has to do is pick her way to the door. She starts running for it, dodging guests, dishes, pets, dishes, bouncy balls, Fluttershy, and a small pretzel. She's almost free!

Giving a bright smile, Quasar heads over to Apple Bloom and Sweetie to give them a quick bump of the nose to their shoulders, then starts over to the blocks. Once he moves to Dinky's side, he reaches out and touches a hoof to her shoulder, then motions to the blocks. "This is easy. I already counted how many blocks and came up with at least five different structures to have the blocks reach the roof. It's easy actually. You can use at least three blocks per 'floor'. You start off horizontally, then you stack vertically." As he starts to move the blocks, he goes to the metal ones first to begin the foundation. He builds a triangle of the three, then stacks the next three vertically, then the next three just like the first set. As he starts to stack and stack, he moves a chair over to hop on, then slowly floats once block by block upwards to catch with his hooves.

Red_Velvet has connected.

Angel whews and puts his watch away. What a bunny has to do to stay fed.

Nimbus_Dawning has arrived.

Solar_Eclipse ends up sitting down by Dinky. "Block stacking really -is- stacking blocks." Okaaay. He shrugs and gives it a shot, magicing a few blocks over and tries to stand them on end. He gets about 10 of them stacked before realizing he's balancing them with magic and stops, thus the tower falls. "You win /this/ time, blocks..."

Celestia watches her mentee scarf down the cake and sighs happily. Oh, she's so proud! She's learning so quickly. A proud, happy tear forms at her eye.

Luna is busy being totally discreet with a petit four. First she discreetly tries to swallow it. Then it lodges in her throat. Then, her head discreetly extended, she discreetly swallows, throat rippling more and more. The discreet bulging of her throat gets more pronounced, as an amorphous shape expands inside her, pressing out discreet lumps as long as her terribly discreet horn. Each is pulled back into place with another swallow, until the lump stops again and white roots start growing out of her ears. Oh, no, that's threads of icing, extending from ears around nose over her face in a totally discreet way.

Spike has disconnected.

Dinky is uninterested in Quasar's block stacking strategy at first, or at least pretending to be, but she actually can't ignore his method. "You... actually counted them that fast, huh? Wow. Pretty... pretty slick." Dinky watches him building for a while, and eventually gets the idea shrugs, and noses a chair over so she can help. "Hey Eclipse, you can't hold them with magic. That's not gonna work, even for you. Come over here and help us out."

Sharien has left.

<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning says, "So is birthday party?"
<OOC> Derpy says, "Yes! Come and join, Nimbus!! 27 better than 26!"

Nettleglum has built a cairn out of blocks. Not unexpected. Where did she get the little Maltese cross to go on top of it?

Twilight_Sparkle has disconnected.

<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning says, "Thankee ^^"
<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning walks in and everyone DCs.

Just got to slide under a few more tables, sidestep a few poodles and... are those CRABS walking around and... Apple Bloom freezes and looks around. For all her winding and wending and strategizing and picking and dodging... she wound up EXACTLY where she started by the snack table. "OH FOR THE SAKE OF THE HOLY GOLDEN APPLES!" She stomps a hoof.

Quasar rubs the back of his neck for a moment, almost embarrassed. "Yes.. I um.. counted them fast.. um.. I just count in quick clusters then add them up in my head." He says softly as he starts to stack another three blocks as he floats them up to his hooves, then carefully builds the next floor. "I don't know. This stuff is kinda easy. Sorta how I fixed the swing set at school. I just.. see it.. work.. in my head." He says as he chews his bottom lip.

No response! Sweetie is almost offended, or would be if she weren't so distracted! So many things going on at once, it's honestly hard to imagine her focusing on any one of them. Princesses! Party Decorations! Food that is probably mostly gone! Now blocks! She was hoping for some singing, but beggars can't be choosers. She sits by the other ones her age. She then starts stacking blocks herself. For all her general failures, her little block building seems to be going along well, until it's about five stories tall, then she just starts building outward.

Sugar_Rush sets out some more bags of candies for the guests...

<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Sweetie is building with the blocks Minecraft style."
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle says, "Now I want a tiny creeper to wander by. "OH COME ON!""
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "XDD"
<OOC> Starfire says, "I beleive that is the Stewards forte."

One of Dinky's subtowers topples when Apple Bloom stomps. "Oh for #$&@~'s sake!!" she yells impulsively at the yellow filly. Dinky seethes, but shrinks back when she realizes she's embarrassed herself at her own party. She sits in her chair and stops adding new blocks to Quasar's structure.

Luna lowers her head down near the floor and gives Apple Bloom a beaming smile of encouragement. Why, she's so encouraging that fungus made out of icing is spreading across her face and starting to sprout mushrooms! With a loud SHLRRRRRRRP she sucks it all back in - including into her ears and swallows again. Finally the lump in her throat hits her stomach.

Mimic can make illusions, she doesn't forget a thing, and rumor had it she was an evil King's freaking spy ... but the blocks defeat her. Squeaking out, Mimic backhoofs rapidly as her tall tower comes wobbling and crashing down. She huffs, but there's a faint lopsided grin on her face as she uses a last bit of magic to scoot the blocks over towards the foals who are still competing.

Solar_Eclipse nods slowly, "I know I know, sorry. I just use it for everything, so I sometimes forget I am doing it." He uses hooves now, somehow, picking the blocks up and helping his friends stack them up, then winces as it collapses from the stomping around and he sighs, "Tougher than it looks."

Nettleglum entombs herself within the blocks, and all is silent, and the masque of Dinky's party holds sway over all. ._.

Derpy puts one block on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another on top of another. She looks over to Mimic and winks. In the split second while she's looking away, her blocks all topple down, causing her to look back and gape in dismay at the pile of rubble beneath her. She just doesn't know what went wrong!!

Sugar_Rush says "Where can I put Dinky's gift?"

"Oh, well...a happy return is, um...it's, um -" Fluttershy quails a bit. "I-it's, like, 'I hope you get many happy wishes."

<OOC> Nettleglum wishes all a good night.
Nettleglum has disconnected.

Angel peeks up from Fluttershy's mane and holds out a birthday card, from Fluttershy of course.

Quasar reaches out to hold his tower steady as best he can, taking in a deep breath. It wobbles left, then wobbles right, then with a quick prayer to Celestia, it stops wobbling. Whew. Slowly he draws his hoof back, then starts to float the next couple of blocks upwards to catch them. Reaching up on tippy hooves, he starts to stack the next floor. Hopping off the chair, he pushes another over and then lifts it up, stacking it on the other chair. He jumps on to the gift table, then carefully climbs on to the top of the stacked chairs. "Over here mister. The presents go here." Then, he starts to float over Eclipse's blocks up to him so he can take them in his hooves. Only about three feet to go to the ceiling.

"Yeah, right", says Dinky to Fluttershy. "Wishes are cheap. But it's not like anyone would -grant- me any wishes, except maybe Miss Icing Horns Princess over there."

Then, the door opens, and in comes... a huge crate of barrels and bottles? Print upon then reveals they're all cider, of the virgin variety. "Delivery." Comes Nimbus's voice curtly from behind the pile.

"Delivery??" echoes Derpy in amazement.

Dragonfly perks her ears and absconds with a barrel, to a table, and looks for a mug. "Well, proper party favors after all."

Nimbus_Dawning isn't in the mood. ._. Crashah. "Well, this is a party, isn't it? Hope so, I'm not carting this around again."

Derpy nodnods hopefully. "Yes is party! Dinky daughter is ten today!" She knocks on one of the barrels. "Is cider?!"

Sugar_Rush sets a brightly-wrapped package on the gift table. He then wanders over to the side to watch the other ponies.

Sweetie_Belle finishes her tower of blocks that, upon looking is a pretty decent replica of her sister's boutique. She even puts a pair of ponies out front. This, of course, lasts all of fifteen seconds before collapsing in. There's even a bit of smoke coming from the collapsed block building for some reason.

Luna has disconnected.

Dusk oohs at the sight of the block stacking game. Objects placed over time and the results of said placements to reach the right combination to reach a desired result. This is probably so not fair for him to play. But he plays around off to the side, seeming to stare emptily for a moment before stacking up a single straight up row of random seeming blocks, not sticking to one type or another with barely a wobble. But he gets to about head height and it all falls over. He smiles and chuckles. Yes that's fun. He glances over seeing Dinky and others working on their own tumbling towers.

Berry Punch goes over to help Dusk rebuild. "Now that was some pretty cool mojo you had going there," she suggests. "I've stacked some random objects in my time, and I know it's harder than it looks to get that high!"

<OOC> Maplewing blarghs and is very scatterbrained tonight u.n
<OOC> Sweetie_Belle says, "I'm told I'm scatterbrained all the time. By Apple Bloom."
<OOC> You say, "We have have twenty-one ponies in the pose order."
<OOC> Maplewing says, "takes one to know one, I suppose n.n"
<OOC> You say, "Well, nineteen and a basilisk and a rabbit."
<OOC> You say, "But a lot of them haven't posed in a while."
<OOC> Mimic is actually going to excuse herself, try and get some early shut eye. Thanks for the event, Derpy, and good rping with everyone!
<OOC> Derpy says, "Are welcome! Good night Mimsy!"
<OOC> Derpy notes that the party will continue tomorrow night.
<OOC> Aurichalcum is just going to observe quietly. The crowd is a bit overwhelming for now.

Mimic has disconnected.
Dynamite_Rave has disconnected.

<OOC> Derpy says, "Noooo pose orders."
<OOC> Maplewing says, "three pose rule?"
<OOC> Derpy says, "NO."
<OOC> Maplewing sinks behind something -.-
<OOC> Derpy says, "One pose rule!!"
<OOC> Maplewing chuckles!
<OOC> Derpy says, "Cannot pose again until at least one pose since your last pose, including yours. n.u"

Nimbus_Dawning nods. "Yeah cider, just the regular kind, not the other kind." She seems largely... indifferent? Well, it's not her party after all. "Here, I'll unload it all." she may not be life of the party, but she's diligent.

"Wait. Which kind is the regular kind?" asks Berry, looking over toward the door sharply.

Solar_Eclipse nosewrinkles "This would be totally easier if I could cheat," He notes, leaning back. His newest tower is already looking a little crooked, and he's trying to decide if he should straighten it or leave it like that. He decides to leave it like that but starts building it leaning the OTHER way to compensate and now his tower looks sort of like an S.

As the two chairs stacked on each other wobble bak and forth, Quasar continues to rock his body from left to right gently to hold his weight. As he floats up the last of the blocks, he stacks them this time into two slots of horizontal to vertical until finally he slips the last one just under the ceiling. Tap. A proud smile crosses over his face as he looks down at the work in front of him. "Huh.. I could have saved at least fifteen percent of the mass if those blocks in the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh floor were tilted upwards just a bit on their side." He clicks his tongue against his teeth, then adjusts his glasses. As he leans forward to peer, the two chairs he stands on rocks back and he flails his hoof. "Woah!" THUD. He topples backwards and crashes to the ground.

Red_Velvet returns to the party after her brief adventure with a pair of Nettie's Fours and tosses her mane with a sigh, "Well that was exciting..."

Okay, going counterclockwise now! Apple Bloom tries once more to wind her way toward the door. And through cruel bending of the laws of EVERYTHING... she ends up dangling from the light on the ceiling. "AH DON'T LAWK THIS PARTY!"

Derpy grins and slides the barrel of cider closest to her inside. "So many thank! Are paid by Cakes?" She looks around for Mr. and Mrs. Cake, but doesn't see them. Shrugging, Derpy looks over... and gasps! "BLOCK STACK WINNNNEERRR!" she says, flying over to Quasar and dropping a necklace made of four colors of licorice around his neck.

Sweetie_Belle is, in the meantime, draping a damp washcloth over the burning remains of her block building. She's not quite sure how they caught fire, don't ask, these things happen. Once done, she looks up at Apple Bloom, "How'd you get up there?"

Nimbus_Dawning peers at Berry. "THe regular kind is the kind that doesn't wipe the whole day from your memory." she explains as kegs are set in a row and tapped. She hasn't even noticed the princess in the room yet.

Dusk smiles to Berry and nods his head, "Greetings. Yes indeed, that is." Though they weren't really random choices at all for his tower. He could have stacked them further, but that would be showing off, not fun. So he accepts the offered help and smiles, "And thank you for the assistance." He starts stacking a few more. With another pony mixing things up, it won't be nearly as predictable. "So you've had some practice at this?"

Big_Mac has arrived.

Quasar finds his eyes rolling in circles as the necklace is dropped over his head and on to his shoulders. "... woo.." Thunk. He drops his head back to the floor again, then mutters. "Eclipse, I think I broke my everything. Do you want to eat my prize?" He asks as he closes his eyes to stop them from rolling about in his head.

[Derpy]

Sugar_Rush has disconnected.

"Huh. No memory wipe. Check," says Berry. That doesn't mean the cider isn't... interesting, though! She zips off after having stacked a couple feet of blocks with Dusk, being unpredictable to a tree. Tee. Same thing, right?

Celestia has consumed an entire sheet cake. She moves on to the next one.

<OOC> Maplewing documents Celestia's devouring, and makes a "Mocumentary" on what would happen if Equestria were flat.

Memoire_Musique looks up as Celestia NOMS... CAKE CAKE CAKE! The tiny filly starts waddling over, attempting to getcloser to the big white mare. "Hewwo." she says when she gets close enough... Or she says it to the first pony she comes acrost.

Solar_Eclipse looks over to Quasar at his question, "I think that would probably be a bad idea," He says with a chuckle. "Besides, last big party I went to, I blew up so I'm trying to avoid anything that would throw things out of wack."

Derpy flies through Quasar's massive tower of blocks on her way to stop Celestia from eating all the cakes, some of the blocks tumbling over Apple Bloom on the light fixture as she goes. "NOO!" she shouts. "Princess Celesti, cakes is not until Agenda 5!" Derpy flies to the sign and crosses off "2. Block Stack". "Next evenda is: Say Nice to Dinky!!" She flies to a top shelf and drags down a big box of colorful crimped bottlecaps.

Red_Velvet trots over to the pony dropping off the cider and begins to look over the stock a bit, "Darling, not to put you out or anything. And I hate to be a bother, but if you were to drop a few barrels of the more 'adult pony' sort of cider off I would be most happy to make it worth your while."

Dinky looks over at her mother. "Oh, you have got. To be kidding."

<OOC> Big_Mac hoofwavewaves!
<OOC> Big_Mac says, "ah s'pose ah'm too late 'fer cake? n.n"
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "If you don't make it before Aunt Celestia gets here, then you're too late for cake."

Quasar peeks an eye open as he grunts out in pain. "Dinky, I think that you are really smart and now statistically the most popular kid in school. Thank you for letting me come to your party."

Derpy grins and drops a bottlecap on the prone Quasar. It's a nice shiny blue and red one.

<OOC> Dusk says, "There are three princesses in the room, including one that towers pretty much to the ceiling, and Nimbus doesn't notice. Now that's focused on your work. :-)"
<OOC> Firefly says, "INdeed. lol"
<OOC> You say, "Well, Twilight and Luna did take off."
<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning says, "Is she actually not noticing though or just being stubborn? >"

Scope has disconnected.

Solar_Eclipse oohs "I can do this one," He says, "Dinky's one of my closest friends and I'm a super-lucky pony for that. My life's better for knowing her!" He peers up expectantly.

A cracking sound is made and Apple Bloom looks up at the fixture she's looking at. "... Uh oh!" With a crashing sound, Apple Bloom falls to the ground, taking the light fixture with her.

Dinky grins and drops a green-silver spiral bottlecap on Eclipse, wings flapping happily.

Nimbus_Dawning crackles her joints when all barrels are unloaded. She's about to leave when Velvet speaks to her. In honesty, part of the blue mare would like nothing more than to crack open the 'other' kind of cider. Luckily though, Mac then arrives, and so the option's out of the cider-happy mare's hooves. She looks at him questioningly.

Derpy passes out colorful bottlecaps to everyone present, one by one. "When turn? Go to Dinky, say nice thing about, and leave bottlecap for!!"

Celestia looks saddened by the belayment of cake. But she gets over it by proceeding to eat cupcakes. Close enough. She daintily eats them one at a kind - giving one or two to Memoire, of course. She receives a bottlecap and ponders. "You are a lovely young mare and I have high hopes for your future." She then deposits the bottlecap and returns to eating cake and cake accessories.

Derpy forgets to designate a system for turns, of course, so everyone is free to say nice things to Dinky whenever they like.

Dusk hmms as loses Berry just as quickly as it started, though they did make some progress at least and made a nice show of things. And the less stable one was actually even more fun. He likes a little more of a random challenge. And looking around it appears the stacking contest is over!

Berry adds one more block on top from behind the tower. Stealth stacker!

Red_Velvet follows Nimbus's gaze and smiles when she sees Macintosh Apple arriving, "Mac! Darling! So lovely to see you again! How are your sisters doing?" It seems Red has not noticed that Apple Bloom is /at/ the party...in spite of the ruckus going on behind her.

Derpy beams at hearing the Princess of the Sun compliment her daughter. She lands and stands and laughs silently for a while, her tail raised and its tip flipping back and forth.

Sweetie_Belle blinks a little. Say nice things to Dinky? Oh, this is a tough one. Not because Sweetie lacks nice things to say, but put on the spot. She thinks hard for the perfect words. "Dinky, you're, um, way better in school than I am. And you have a neat party! Annnnnd, uh, you looked nice in that winter outfit." She looks up to where Bloom is and says, "Come on, say something nice!"

Angel, unable to speak, draws a nice Dinky on a card and gives that to her instead.

Bardigan has arrived.

Dinky is sitting there in the middle of the room, looking sullen. But she's starting to thaw, and can't hide it. "Okay," she mumbles. "This -may- not be the stupidest game ever." She looks reluctantly to Sweetie Belle and nods. "Thanks." Then she looks at Apple Bloom with a piercing stare.

Memoire_Musique stays near Celestia. She's the BIGGEST MARE EVER! She's even bigger than... Cute senses tingling. CUTE TINGLE! She whirls around, nose twitching. "Bunny?" she says loudly, waddling as quickly as her chubby legs can take her towards the bunny.

"Firefly turn?" urges Derpy, recovering from her princess-induced reverie. "Or Velvet?"

<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning is ICly carting cider to a party. It's equal parts working, trying not to think about drink, and grumbling. XP

Apple Bloom sits up, covered in sheet rock dust and various lighting appendages dangling on her. "Wah?" Then she looks over at Dinky. But... but... she doesn't even *like* Dinky. The filly furrows her brow, trying ot think of *something.* "Uh... yer... a good student... accordin' t'Quasar?"

"Oh, um...oh!" Fluttershy goes all candle-idea-y. "Dinky, I know that deep down, you have a beautiful heart." And she beams and oh Celestia there might actually be sunbeams coming out of her face.

Solar_Eclipse grins as Dinky seems to be enjoying it more. Unable to resist, she gets a surprise hug from him and then he balances the bottlecap on her nose and grins brightly which, for a shadowpony, is a tough feat!

Dinky ppfts. "Yeah, sure. That doesn't count. That's you you passing it off on him." She's gonna milk this with regard to AB. She is touched, however, by Angel's card and Fluttershy's lovely sentiments. Those sunny smiles are hard to keep a mask on through!

Sweetie_Belle looks over at Apple Bloom at her statement. "Apple Bloom!" she says in her best scolding voice. "You can do better! You don't get any cake until you do better!" She's probably unable to actually make that call, but she's doing it. It happened. Deal.

Derpy gives Big Mac and Nimbus Dawning bottlecaps too. "Go say nice to Dinky," she whispers to them, speaking behind a raised wing.

"C'mon Sweetie. Ah don't even wanna be here." Apple Bloom says, not even hiding her contempt for the birthday filly. Does this make her a terrible filly? Maybe. She sighs, exasperated. She stands up and tries to muuster some other grudging compliment, and falls flat: "Yer a girl."

<OOC> Apple_Bloom is Dinky's #1 fan
<OOC> Big_Mac whoopses! was snatched by RL but is back now to find himself in RP! n.n
<OOC> Derpy muaha.

Nimbus_Dawning isn't given a chance to leave as she would be want to do as she is suddenly roped into the party. "Me? Oh, I don't, erm, know most ponies here. I'm just delivering..." she trails off.

Derpy psssts louder to the draft stallion and cider toter. "If cannot say something nice to Dinky... don't say anything at all. EVER AGAIN." Her eyes are momentarily very yellow and very focused.

<OOC> Fluttershy says, "Whoa. o.o That was so cool."

Dinky stares at Apple Bloom. "Yeah? So are you. So what."

Red_Velvet turns and regards the game for a moment before striding across the room with purpose and seating herself before the birthday filly. She places her bottlecap down and with one hoof slides it across the floor to the young pony. Red Velvet's expression is one of grave seriousness as she addresses the young filly, "Dinky Hooves, you have limitless potential young mare. I say this with all seriousness. If you where to go at life with a little more drive, and were a little older. I would very likely offer you a staff position in my home offices. Do keep that in mind in the coming years. You may find more and more ponies taking a hard look at you, and all your peers. It will not be so very much longer before you all join the workforce. Do think about where you want your life to go in future." And with that complement/mini lecture out of the way Red makes room for the next pony.

Dusk chuckles at the Stealth Berry stacker. He then takes one of the offered colorful bottlecaps and waits for others ahead of him to take their turn. He then steps up and smiles, "Hey, Dinky! It's always been great having you come by the Center, or helping you with math, and such. And you've always been pretty cool with me. I may not have solved everything for you, but thank you for trusting and coming to me for help. And the door is always open for you to come over and.. whatever ya' like. Though if anything particularly crazy is going on, maybe knock first." He chuckles, and flips the cap to her in a nice arc, right to her hooves. "Happy birthday, kiddo!"

"APPLE BLOOM!" Sweetie calls out again, frowning adorably at her friend. "Fine, if you can't be nice to a classmate, and don't want to be here, then go, I guess." Her ears flick back, giving her the 'If you leave I'll be super disappointed in you' look. That or she might just be hungry.

Apple Bloom growls in frustration and hops and points at Dinky and proceeds to deliver... not a nice. "You know what? Yer jus' a difficult, stuffy, obstinate, arrogant little filly who ain't got no friends! Y'all take yer own momma fer granted and think y'all have some kawnda hard lawf! Yer mom is great, unlike *y'all!*" Apple Bloom says, drowning out poor Sweetie Belle, turning around, and storms for the door. "C'Mon Sweetie Belle, we're leavin'!"

<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning says, "o.o"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom is Dinky's #1 fan.

Quasar clears his throat gently after he recovers from his painful tumble off mount stacked chairs. He trots over to Dinky and Apple Bloom, letting out a soft sigh. "Apple Bloom, come on. A Crusader would know when to bury the past and try to create a better future. Being a Crusader is about finding one's cutie mark, right? Which is also finding one's destiny and their path going forward. Don't let your destiny be marred by the past. You and Dinky can start over fresh right now if you try." He gives a hopeful smile as he adjusts his glasses. "You of all ponies taught me -- " He pauses as Apple Bloom starts shouting, then wilts his ears back when she starts to leave. ".. A - Apple Bloom!"

Dinky looks disturbed by her mother's hissed whispering, but fortunately she doesn't hear all the words. She looks back to Red Velvet and Dusk with their lengthy kind words. And though her posture on the floor still says 'This is stupid', her face quibbles and works and she chews on her lips. "Thanks," she says. "I mean, I'll think about that, Red. I will. And... and I don't know why you're thanking me, Dusk, but you're welcome." She thinks of adding more, but simply nods instead, trying to keep the tears from coming. Dinky then hears Apple Bloom's tirade and the mood is shattered. She gasps, stands up, slips down to the floor again, whacks the floor with her tail, and grinds her teeth. "Yeah. Sure. Thanks, Maple Bloop. Appreciate it." She doesn't. She doesn't appreciate it at all.

Solar_Eclipse blinks, startled by the outburst. "That wasn't very nice," he notes, keeping near Dinky now, leaning into her a bit if she'll let him.

<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning really really wants to RP but the crowdedness is playing heck with my eyes and my RSI'd hand is giving me problems. x.x
<OOC> You say, "What's an RSI'd hand?"
<OOC> Firefly says, "Three queens and a duece five."
<OOC> Nimbus_Dawning says, "Typing strain. It feels out of strength. ^^;"

"I'm staying!" Sweetie says. "You're acting like a... a....A BULLY!" she tells Apple Bloom, getting herself all worked up.

Big_Mac squeezes himself into the shop, it's always been a bit of a snug fit, but today with all the ponies is just far too amusing to see the big stallion wading through your more average sized ponies. He grins broadly and waves to those that greet him, including a few odd looks, what? no, he didn't park his cider wagon outside. (checks his wagons keys, good, still there.) When suddenly he's nose to nose, so to speak with Derpy, who hoofs him a cap and instructs him to say nice things to Dinky. He looks thoughtful for a few long moments before raising up a little, bringing a hoof to his chest, looking like he's about to say something, right up until he notices the giant crowd he's in, and begins to clam up nervously. O.O

Angel grabs a chocolate treat that was running by and tosses it onto Mac's nose.

<OOC> Sweetie_Belle says, "Big Mac's nice thing "... ... ... EEEEYUP"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Thing is, when Big Mac says, 'Eeeyup,' there is a a meaning of great depth and understanding in it, that he has appraised all in the world before him and he, Big Macintosh, has submitted his approval of all good things."
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Either that'r ah'm drunk."

Scope has connected.

Derpy flap flap flap right there next to Big Mac. The fiery expression is gone, but she still looks serious. Her eyes are on her daughter. Flap. Flap.

Memoire_Musique starts waddling towards AngelBunny. "Bunnybunnyunnyvunny!"

Angel oh craps and darts behind Fluttershy!

Nimbus_Dawning has disconnected.

Berry Punch goes over to Dinky and flips her well-licked merlot-colored bottlecap to land in front of her. "You know what, Dinky? You're a good strain. I mean, you've got flavor! It may not be the usual flavor, but... well, what I'm saying is, if someone could brew you, they'd make a mint. That's all." Berry winks and moves off..

Dinky nods. "So. Is that all? Firefly? Sco--" She looks around for Scope. He's outside again, apparently. Just as well. "Well, if that's all done with..."

"Oh yeah?! Well.. well..." Apple Bloom waves a hoof at Sweetie Belle, but knows she's already lost this argument. "Fawn! *Ah'll* jus' leave! An' you kin have fun with yer *new* *friend* *Dinky.*" Apple Bloom turns and begins to storm out only to collide with Big Mac, get propelled across the room and right next to Dinky and Sweetie Belle. After a few startled moments, the young filly looks over at Dinky and says, timidly, "Yer awes're pretty, y'know." There. She said her nice.

<OOC> Apple_Bloom knew she had to diffuse the situation in a good way. XD

Scope abruptly re-enters, having had enough of the fresh air and the random fly buzzing about. o.o

Dinky smiles wanly to Apple Bloom. "Thanks. And hey. Nice bow."

Dusk listens to all the other kinds words, other than those of one filly. His words won't help sway her more than her friends, but he shakes his head at the effect it has on Dinky. "Miss Dinky, Miss Bloom there is full of bitter, and that's what's speaking. If she stays like that, I assure you she'll end up much worse than you worried about for yourself. And I was thanking you for trusting in me, and treating me as I treated in turn."

Sweetie_Belle starts to look upset that Apple Bloom would get so mad she would actually leave. She even has on her best grumpy-face till Bloom tumbles back in and compliments. She immediatly cheers up again and is practically beaming in victory! "See, I knew you could do it."

Big_Mac glances to the floor and back up to Derpy, then to Dinky, his ears flushed and folded. He reaches out with a hoof to gingerly place his cap... "Eeyup.... y' are a good seed!" he finally says after a long delay of chewing on that wheat stalk, followed by Apple Bloom colliding with him and getting underhoof just as he was about to /carefully/ step back, leaving the stallion teedering across the room between landing on a pony and trying to maintain his balance long enough to find a clear spot, which, there doesn't seem to be in the practically standing-room only party. At least as far as a stallion his size is concerned.

Firefly finally spreads her wings and lands near Dinky. "You have a heart driven by constitution Dinky, let nothing change this." then bows to the young one.

Aurichalcum has disconnected.
Quasar has disconnected.

Derpy grins, delighted! She flies over to the signboard and crosses out "3. Say Nice to Dinky." "Very well dones! And now?" She looks at the sign board in confusion. "...Truth or Hair!!" She flies back over the partiers, getting herself tangled in streamers and opting to use them as a hammock. "...Who wants to start?"

Solar_Eclipse grins to Dinky, "Oh, is it too late to go back and change mine?" he asks. "This was actually a neat idea," he admits. "My last birthday I sat in my room. The cook made me a cupcake. It wasn't much fun at all."

Dinky looks puzzled by Firefly's words. But she nods and takes the bottlecap. Constitution, huh? But Eclipse amuses her. "Yeah? And I'm more fun than a cupcake?"

Solar_Eclipse grins back to her, "Any day of the week."

"Y'think so? It's kawnda important t'me." Apple Bloom says nudging the ribbon, then looking over at Sweetie Belle and frowns. This proves nothing, Belle.

Dinky grins darkly. "Thanks. You too. Especially a cream-filled cupcake."

[Derpy]

Scope has disconnected.

Derpy flutters in silence. "~Nopony~ want to Truth or Hair??"

Sweetie_Belle waves a hoof! "Meeee! Me me! Pick me!"

Derpy picks Sweetie Belle! "Sweet Treats! Truth or Hair?"

"What's Truth or Hair?" comes a squeaky yellow voice.

Apple Bloom suddenly realizes she needs to use the restroom and raises her hoof. This may be taken as her volunteering, however.

"Uh, how do you play this game?" Sweetie asks, then gets the question. "Ummm, Hair!" she says, lifting a hoof to fluff up her own curly locks.

Derpy grins! She flies over to the big sign, turns it around, draws for a minute with a green marker in her mouth, and turns it back. It depicts a giant pompadour with a fauxhawk. "Hair!!" she cheers.

Red_Velvet watches the unfolding of the new game with a slightly befuddled expression, "It is very nice Derpy, darling...but...what is the filly suppose to do with the picture now?

Derpy blinkblinks.

Dusk smiles as things seem to work out? Well turn nicer at least. And that's good. He watches the new game curiously as well, giving a light nod at Red's inquiry.
Dusk says "Perhaps that is the entire game?"

Derpy scratches her head. "Not enough?"

Dusk says "Congratulations, Miss Bell."

Sweetie_Belle's expression shoots up even higher! She's chosen correctly! She thinks. "I win! I...did I win?" Her ear twitches, "What am I suppose to do?"

Solar_Eclipse looks over a few moments, "I'm not quite sure what's going on."

Derpy frowns. "Pinkie Pie knows rules," she admits.
Derpy brightens up! "Now you win ~choose~ next pony to play!!"

Dinky stares at the goings on. She slowly collects her bottlecaps.

Sweetie_Belle briefly tries to make her mane stand up in a fauxhawk, but it almost immediatly poofs back into its usual, uncontrolled, curly form.

<OOC> Dusk approves of Sweetie's mane action.
<OOC> Maplewing balances a Nuka-Cola Quantum on Dinkie's head. ^.^

Dragonfly has disconnected.

Red_Velvet rubs her chin in thought and then lifts her shoulders in a shrug, "Derpy, dear. Do you perhaps mean we should be playing 'Truth or /Dare/', It seems to me I've never heard of this particular version of the game?"

Derpy cheers and laughs at Sweetie's attempt to restyle her mane. It sounds like a whippoorwill doing acrobatics down a slope of flat stones near a waterfall. "No, no. Is Truth or Hair! Whose turn next, Sweetie?"

"... Oh maw. Ah dunno if ah'm gonna lawk this game." Appel Bloom says worriedly.

Sweetie_Belle ohs, "I pick the next turn?" she asks and looks around a moment. She gives it a considerable thought and points randomly! Her hoof ends up pointing at Big Mac.

"Big Mac!" exclaims Derpy gladly. "Truth or Hair?"

<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Knowin' Big MAc's love fer cross-dressin'?"

Firefly has disconnected.
Starfire has disconnected.
Angel has disconnected.

Berry Punch is over at the cider now, chugging mug after mug.

Salsa Verde's head slooooowly rises out of the cider barrel, fixing Berry with a glare that could curdle concentrated water..

Red_Velvet looks slightly surprised but then nods, "Well I do have to admit, I don't know Miss Pinkie Pie very well at all. This may well be a game of hers."

"Not know?" asks Derpy in disbelief. "But are Red Velvet. She is Pinkie ~Pie!~ Both are delicious flavor and almost same color! How can not know??" Derpy is occasionally superficial.

Red_Velvet looks at first shocked, then she begins to laugh musically, "Oh Derpy! No! Miss Pinkie Pie and I have actually met and talked only twice since I came to Ponyville! Our coat colors really have nothing todo with it at all!" She giggles uncontrollably.

Derpy giggles too, bringing to mind the sound of bluebells in the summer being taught to play tiny Prench horns. She gives Red Velvet a pat pat on the side. "Is okay! Will meet and love soon! ~Both~ taken by change monsters!"

Chance has disconnected.

Big_Mac finally skitters to a halt, and by skitter, he means spin in a slow circle on his hooves and crash somewhat noisily against one of the walls, possibly crushing a table or some other kind of furniture between himself and the wall in the process (not even dental records will ID the piece of furniture) When he looks up, he's practically looking right down the barrel of Sweetie's hoof. "Uhhhmmm.." he stammers a moment as his spinning mind catches up. His ears flushing a little he looks up at his mop of a mane. "Hair?" he says, looking a bit uncertain.

Derpy gets a very frazzlepuzzled look upon Big Mac's inadvertent destruction of the Cakes' whatever-that-was. Maybe they won't remember ever having it! She smiles as the game continues. From behind a high shelf she fetches a brush, a spraybottle and and a hair pick, and drops them at Sweetie Belle's hooves. "Hair!"

Sweetie_Belle stares at the spraybottle and hairpick "You mean.... I get to do Big Macintosh's mane?"

Big_Mac pulls himself back to a more proper stnading posture, taking a moment to brush any frosting from his coat from whatever it was that got squished from Apple Bloom's earlier getting underhoof, but as he spies the hair styling tools, he freezes and his eyes go wide as saucers. Sweetie Belle with tools... of any kind, is to be feared!

Memoire_Musique waddles over to Big Mac... Shove... Shuve... Shoveshoveshove! "Monthta!"

"So it would appear," says a wry-looking Dinky. She's gathered up all the bottlecaps now and is trying to clean up a bit of the mess the party has left so far.

Red_Velvet covers her mouth with a hoof, trying to hide the very unladylike snickering that threatened to erupt at this new development.

Berry Punch tries to nibble some of the chocolate squashed cookiecake that got on her hoof from before. When she squashed it to kill it. It seems to go well with the cider, anyway.

Fluttershy just sort of blinks. Slowly, she raises a hoof.

Derpy calls upon.

Dusk watches curiously, happening to wander over around near Dinky and helping clean a few things up too as he watches.

Red_Velvet watches Fluttershy for a moment, her magic enveloping Memoire, "Sweetheart. Mister Macintosh is not a monster. Come over here and sit with Auntie Velvet."

"Um...Derpy?" says Fluttershy, as if prodded on by an invisible mouse. "W-what's going on?"

The bottle and pick are both taken and Sweetie stalks over to Big Mac. Harsh music seems to play now, a dooming dirge of some sort, playing specifically for the Stallion and his mane. "Ooookay, I think we got this," she assures Big Mac, "I mean we tried for a Manedressing cutiemark and didn't get it, but maybe second time's a charm!" And she goes about it, pick poking here and there. Mac's mane going up in weird places. The waterbottle spritzes out a few times and the comb twirls about a few times till Sweetie makes herself dizzy somehow, then untwirls and POOF! Mac's mane stands up for a minute, then tangles. It's also frosted blue at the tips somehow, despite her not having any mane dye. Some of the cake icing is missing though.
Sweetie_Belle then adds, "I don't know how this happened...."

Apple_Bloom has disconnected.

"Is Truth or Hair," Derpy explains patiently to Fluttershy. She's always patient with those who don't understand, especially those who are patient with her! She looks at the product for a while, from different angles, flying and standing.

Derpy eventually nods in approval at Big Mac's new look. "Hair!!" she says triumphantly. And with that, she flies over to the sign and crosses "4. Truth or Hair" off the list.

Derpy draws an arrow to #6, suggesting that it should happen before #5. "Now Gifts!" She points a random leg in a random direction and it ends up pointing at Solar Eclipse. "Shall open gift from?" she asks eagerly.

Bardigan pokes his head into Sugarcube Corner, bearing a gift on his back between his wings. It's a rather nondescript package, wrapped in pink with green ribbons in a traditional bow. He slinks stealthily around the truth or hair gathering, sliding the box onto one wing and hiding it amongst all the others that have yet to be opened. Then, he assumes a nonchalant position as he picks up a cup of punch with his other wing, like he has been there the whole time.

Memoire_Musique gets dragged over... "But.. .BIG!" she protests, pointing at Big mac. "SUPERBIG!"

Berry Punch slaps Bardigan on the back. "Bardi, you old blaffer, you!!" she greets loudly. 'Blaffer' is very probably a word with no meaning.

Solar_Eclipse's ear twitches and he grins in amusement at the craziness. "I hope Apple Bloom's brother is ok with his new hairstyle." He perks as he's picked, "Oh, sure!" His horn glows and his gift floats from the table over to Dinky and sets in front of her. "Don't shake it too much...

Dinky is smirking at the whole thing. Poor Mac. She looks at her mother in the air for a moment and chuckles. "Oh, hey Eclipse. You got me a gift after all? I told you, renting out Sugarcube Corner was plenty." But she doesn't seem upset. She shakes the box a little... but not too much. And listens.

Celestia is skipping her turn.

Red_Velvet smiles at the little filly and nuzzles her, "I know Memmy, dear. Mister Macintosh is a very big pony. He is a stallion and a big stallion at that. But he has to be 'Superbig'. And do you know why?"
Solar_Eclipse grins brightly, "I know, but it's your birthday and... you get gifts So there." There's a little sound of something glass moving around in the box. Maybe a big glass jar of some sort?

Bardigan smiles at Berry and throws a hoof around her withers. "Berry, you old boffer!" he grins back. "Haven't seen you since the last play. *Wonderful* job you did there, too."

Dinky grins and flicks her tail. "Well, I guess that's that, then. Gotta play by the rules." She smirks again at Big Mac before unwrapping the package carefully with full attention.

Big_Mac takes a few nervous steps backward as Sweetie Belle stalks after him, until his rump bumps into that wall again. The distance closes so fast when youre big. His eyes are wide, almost with a 'dont hurt me' look, but not quite as terrified. Trapped, Mac does the only thing a stallion can do when a filly is charged with doing a stallion's mane... close his eyes and hope for the best. "eenope!" he stammers to Sweetie with his eyes closed. He doesn't feel any searing pain, or blood loss as she works, and when finished, his eyes slowly open, peering upward as he tries to see his own mane, looking thankful hes in one piece. All things considered, hes alright, and the new 'do isnt too bad either, even if it isn't an apple colour. Uhh, thank y'.." he chuckles and gives a sheepish little wave to Memoire as she points out his size.

Memoire_Musique shakes her head at Velvet... "Nu-uh!" she says. "Noknow!" she bubbles, before all but inhaling Velvet's ears.

Berry Punch is shaken by Bardigan's grasp, apparently less able to take it right now. And this is the 'regular' kind of cider! She quivers all up and down her body. "Oh. Well... thanks! Yeah, I play a pretty mean Mrs. Whatshername. Janet or whatever. You gotta bring spirit to a role like that." She squeezes back afefctionately. "So when's your next play, huh?"

The package is unwrapped! Inside the box is, indeed, a jar. It's fairly sizable and it glows a bit. Inside is the night sky, darkness swirling around, pinpoints of lights as stars in the sky and moonlight all shine from the jar. One of the lights is brighter than the others and it zips around a bit, sort of like a firefly in a jar but it's not a firefly. "It's a night wisp," He says. "Don't let it out of the jar, it only survives at night," he explains with a nod.

Dinky takes the jar and marvels over it. She turns it and turns it, setting it down on the floor and watching with her eyes and mouth wide, her ear perked. Everyone, even Eclipse, is ignored.

Solar_Eclipse blinks a little, "I hope you like it. Catching night spirits is no easy task, even for me. And catching the evening breeze can be tougher. And moonlight! Don't even get me started..." He looks as she seems captivated by it. The jarsky swirls a bit, stars moving like normal stars would if somehow put into a jar. The wisp zigzags around, making laps in the jar a while.

Derpy admires Mac again, but soon goes to investigate the amazing dark jar. She hovers over it, and over her daughter. "Is piece of moon?" she asks.

Red_Velvet smiles as she watches the gift being unwrapped, then she noses and kisses Memoire's cheek, murmuring softly. "It is because he is filled with love. He has a very big family so has a lot of ponies he has to love. You see Princess Celestia over there? She is even bigger, and That is because she has to love /everypony/ in Equestria...All at once!" Red put just enough inflection into her voice to try and help the little filly see the enormity of the task as she adds, "Princess Celestia even has to love the bad ponies! Whoaaaaa, huh?"

Solar_Eclipse blinks a little, "Just light from it. And night spirits. Stuff like that." He looks to the others a moment, giving another little grin.

Celestia disappears with a mild flash of light.
Celestia has left.

Memoire_Musique has to think about this... She really does. Plopping down, she rubs her chin.

Dinky's normally attentive ears don't happen to catch the spin Red Velvet puts on size, which is just as well. She's fascinated, all right. She turns the jar slowly... then with effort pulls herself up from it. A wide smile invades her little face. "Solar..." she says in a low voice. Then words fail her. So she finds more. "I'm gonna have so many questions..."

"I... well I hope you like it." Eclipse says again, shuffling a hoof against the floor almost silly looking as he watches her grin. "Oh, well I'll have answers. I think." He smiles, "But for now, you have so many presents." His eyes squint amusedly, "Happy birthday."

Red_Velvet smiles with an indulgent air about her as the little filly digests her story about ponies being filled with love. She then adds, "But just because ponies are big does not mean they are nice. Only certain ones are. That is just why Mister Macintosh and the Princess are big. You have to watch how a pony acts to decide if they are a good pony or a bad one. We are judged by our actions."

Dinky looks over at the gift table, now piled high with gifts from over a dozen ponies, as if noticing it for the first time. She looks evenly back at Solar Eclipse. As if in counterpoint to Red's account, she smiles tenderly and a trickle of tears drains from her left eye. She sobs without much noise, and without much control. "I really do, don't I?" Dinky whispers. "Thanks. Thanks so much." She turns to look at everyone else. "Thanks so... so much." It's all overwhelming, for all this to hit at once.

Sweetie_Belle has disconnected.
Solar_Eclipse has disconnected.

Derpy shouts "Dinky's birthday so far? Dizzying success! Has been adjourned for today! Come back tomorrow night at maybe 8:30 for continuate!!" (Public-shout)

[Derpy]

Day 1 was blast!! Now for Day 2, which was less blast, more quiet. RP was slightly out of order, so we went back to finish Truth or Hair before proceeding to cake. You can remember as if Solar Eclipse gift were gaven at normal time with other gifts.

=====================================

PUB >> Dinky says, "Ugh."
PUB >> Dinky says, "Well, here I am."

PUB >> Derpy says, "Is 8:30!! Time to resume Dinky's birthday party!"

Derpy shouts "Want to continue Dinky's birthday party from last night? Come to Sugarcube Corner!" (Public-shout)

Sugar_Rush munches on a cupcake.

Luna has arrived.

<OOC> Derpy says, "Welcome back to conscious, your Majistration!"
<OOC> Sugar_Rush says, "Hello, Big Mac and Your Highness."
<OOC> Luna says, "So have we resumed? Nobody's here yet! NOTHING MAKES SENSE ANYMORE!!!"
<OOC> Derpy is waiting for a few more hardy souls. u.n
<OOC> Big_Mac wavewaves a hoof!
<OOC> Big_Mac says, "H'lo Rush, an' y'all!"
<OOC> Luna will sit here and chew on her hooves, then.
<OOC> Dinky says, "Does that work?"
<OOC> Quicksilver says, "Sense, I think someone gave that to Dinky and its lost among the wrapping paper"
<OOC> Dinky says, "Uh..."
<OOC> Dinky says, "Yeah. Nice one. I think,"

Derpy whirls up her foreleg and winds up pointing at Big Macintosh. "Very bifrost mane! Now ~you~ choose who plays next!"

<OOC> Dusk says, "Thought we finished T|H ?"
<OOC> Big_Mac was gonna ask the same ^.^
<OOC> Dinky says, "Not anymore, apparently."

Sugar_Rush goes over and gets a cupcake. He carefully bites into it. He has heard that occasionally the cupcakes at these parties are...shall we say...not quite what one would expect...

Rush's cupcake is filled with pomegranate jelly.

<OOC> Big_Mac says, "so picking up with Truth or Hair?"
<OOC> Derpy noddles! (Please pick Luna!)
<OOC> Luna is sick and here to give Dinky her present. However, a crowd would be nice!
<OOC> Derpy says, "Never mind--maybe picking Luna is too cruel."
<OOC> Dusk has some cellular peptide cake. With mint frosting.
<OOC> Derpy says, "If too sickly to play, Luna, is okay. So sorry for infirm!"
<OOC> Luna says, "I am not here to play, no. I am sickly and irritable. I would not be here at all, but... oh, I should face it. I can't possibly RP. I'll just add Dinky's present to the pile, and she can open it to her and others' amusement whenever."

Luna has left.

Sugar_Rush takes another bite of his cupcake, then waves to Big Mac. "Hello. I take it a certain group of fillies were trying to get their mane-dying cutie marks?"

Solar_Eclipse has connected.

Big_Mac chuckles, brushing a hoof through his mane, which is now styled and mostly blue, somehow, thanks to sweetie Belle. Speaking of which, in honour of his new blue do, he turns around once and points a big hoof at Luna, just as she excuses herself from the party - Royal business, no doubt, and definitely not due to the secret stash of royal (hard) apple cider in the back room. His hoof hovers where Luna was for a moment, leaving him to look about with a bit of confusion, but upon Rush's greeting, Macintosh grins and brings his hoof to point at the cupcake bearing sugar stallion. "Eeyup! Rush's turn!"

Firefly flicks her wings and grins to Mac. "Yes oh largening one, that was Luna, Lady of the Night."

Derpy flapflaps gleefully a few feet above Sugar Rush. "Truth or Hair!!" she singsongs.

Sugar_Rush looks confused..."Truth or...hair? I don't believe I know that game..."

Dusk is off over quietly, magically replenishing some of the many missing snacks.. for snacking. He looks over watching the others as the game goes on, picking up one of the snacks, to snack. *munch*

Starfire is quietly, off, eating more snacks as they appear so it won't look like nopony wanted any.

Big_Mac chuckles to rush and shrugs "Ah didn't either, but look at me!" he grins, pointing to his spiked and blue styled mane. Not that this helps his argument any. Turning his head to Firefly he grins and nods. "Eeyup!"

Firefly grins and looks at Mac. "I hereby dub thee, "Guy Blue."

Dragonfly says "Well dun' be a lookin' at me...-I- dun' like blue. I prefer metallic greens and yellows. So I didnae do it."

<OOC> Dusk says, "Bluna. Big Mac Luna."
<OOC> Dusk says, "And blue."

Marble_Memory has arrived.

Derpy sees some of the guests eating snacks and, in a fluttery fluster, flies over to them. "Snaxstime is done!" she insists, pointing at the board on which "1. Snaxs" is crossed out in green marker. "Will spoil cake hunger!"

Sugar_Rush has finished his cupcake by now. "Well, Derpy, maybe if you explained what this new game is and how it is played..."

Derpy flies back to Rush, a wobbly expression on her face. "Truth... or... Hair!" she exclaims. "Is choose!!"

Apple Bloom watches Derpy with some concern etched on her face. "... Oh maw."

Dusk nods to Rush, "Yes, seems you just need to pick one of those two. Then what isn't so clear."

Dusk eyes Starfire and grins, magicing up a few extra snacks too.

Dinky is staring into her night jar. Now and then she shifts position... to peer in a little deeper.

Quasar has arrived.

<OOC> Dinky says, "The party's picking back up."
<OOC> Dusk says, "The party madpony is here. :-)"

Big_Mac taptaps Rush and shrugs to Rush, using his other hoof to point to his mane. "Ah picked hair... coulda 'bin worse."

Starfire flits about. "Cube's door open - don't need a key...its a juumping party, for Derpy's Dinky....

Firefly perks an ear.

Dragonfly says "I do hope this place isn't about to blow...all the snacks are here."

Solar_Eclipse is just sitting nearby still. He grins, seeing Dinky kind-of-sort-of liking his gift.

Derpy starts flitting about with Starfire. "Is song for only us?!" she asks, her frustration forgotten.

Sugar_Rush looks nervous, "Um...I don't know about this..I mean, I know I'm rather plain looking, but I'm not sure I want something so...different..." He shifts from one hoof to the other...

Apple Bloom leans in close to look at what Dinky is. "What is that?"

"Then truuuth?" says Derpy, poking her head down.

Quasar is settled next to Eclipse, peeking over at the others, then leans in to whisper at his friend, "So, what's going on now?"

Dinky pulls the jar instinctively toward herself, away from Apple Bloom. "None of your business," she retorts.

Sugar_Rush says "Um...I guess so?"

Derpy throws her wings up and falls, forgetting that she was using them to fly. "Truuuuuth!" -knonk-

"Well fawn." Apple Bloom says, sitting back and folding her hooves. Dinky doesn't wanna share? Fine.

Dusk is watching a bit intently too, wondering just what might be the choice. He ohs and watches what's next then, trying not to chuckle as Derpy bonks about.

Solar_Eclipse's ears twitch and he quirks a brow lightly, his head tilting as he watches. He's starting to wonder if things are a bit unhealthy now, but blinks and looks to Quasar. "I'm not sure. I think I spaced out there."

Somewhere on the muck, Luna disconnected.

Big_Mac waits for Rush to stew a little before blushing as Derpy nudges him "Ooh right! Truth or Hair!?"

Derpy nudges again. "Haas chooosened Truth!" she reminds him.
Dusk hmmms and ponders, "Perhaps you are suppose to ask him a question, Mr. Mac?"

<OOC> Big_Mac sorries and facehoofs! Still on phone! X-D

Dragonfly says "That means more 'an one snippet, yes?"

Big_Mac BLUSHES even brighter red than usual. "OH!" he says, looking very embarrassed now. "Ummm... If y' had t' make jus' one candy 'fer the rest of 'yer life, which would it be?" he asks finally after a lengthy moment to think.

<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "At least it wasn't an apple-related question."

Dinky doesn't want to share, no. And more importantly, she really doesn't want this jar getting broken. She shoves it under the gift table, laden with packages, and is about to speak up toward Sugar Rush when Macintosh manages to get a question out. She sullenly falls still.

<OOC> Big_Mac bonks Apple Bloom n.n

After another several moments, Apple Bloom finally says something to Dinky. Seems the cease-fire is over: "Ah'm not stupid, y'know. Ah kin tell y'all think ah am."

Sugar_Rush blinks! "Oh! Gee, I must admit, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun, making just one kind. However, if I had to..." He looks back at his cutie mark, "Well, we Sugars have a tradition of providing marshmellows, so..."

Starfire oohs and lifts an ear. "I LIKE marshmallows! What kinds do you make?"

Dusk leans over and corrects Starfire, "'MarshmEllows.'"

Solar_Eclipse looks over at the game in progress, briefly looking to Dinky, Bloom and Quasar, then back again.

Starfire lifts an ear to Dusk. "Never heard of that, are they different?

<OOC> Apple_Bloom suspects they are drugs.
<OOC> Sugar_Rush says, "No, they are not."
<OOC> Dragonfly laughs.
<OOC> Firefly says, "If sweets were a drug, I'd be in DEEP trouble. "
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "You? What about PINKIE?!"
<OOC> Firefly drags her IF over here.
<OOC> Firefly says, "PInkie would probably be the local mob boss."

Dinky glares lowly at Apple Bloom. "Zat so. Well, if you say so," she responds. To the crowd, she announces: "I've heard of dumb games, but this one kind of takes the cake. And speaking of cake, are we ever gonna see it?"

Derpy hovers uncomfortably. ~She~ was enjoying the game. But... this is Dinky's big day, after all. "Then... then done!" she says. She goes to cross it off the list. "Time for CAKE!"

[Derpy]

Starfire says "Ohhh, cake! I know what that is!"
Firefly says "I know WHO that is too." laughing."

"Yer such an ingrate." Apple Bloom retorts. "Here yer mom is trawin' t'make y'all happy and yer not even trawin' to act lawk y'all care."
Quasar is no longer in the pose order.

Derpy's sign reads:
===================
LIST OF AGENDA
1. Snaxs (x)
2. Block stack! (x)
3. Say Nice To Dinky. (x)
4. Truth or Hair. (x)
5. Cake!
6. Gifts open.
7. Pin Yatta!!
8. Bon Fire.
===================

Dusk grins to Starfire and shrugs, "Actually I'm not entirely sure. They seem pretty similar to marshmallows. But Mr. Rush is somewhat picky about it." He grins, and ohs as we jump to cake on the list.

Dragonfly reads a paper on a table. "Midget psychic escapes prison. Small Medium at large."

<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "XD"

Dusk hopes there is any cake around with Celestia having been here, even briefly.

<OOC> Dusk laughs. :-)

Starfire says "The Ponyville Press is really reaching nowadays."
Dinky involuntarily snarls at the Apple filly. "I do care. I just think Truth or Hair is more retarded than a sideways bullfrog, that's all," she mutters loudly. "And I'm hungry. I want cake."

Big_Mac's ears perk as he finally has his attention pulled from teh game to the quarreling Apple bloom, with heavy hooves he trods over to the earth filly. "Did ah jus' hear y' callin' names?" he asks, his previously jovial tone down several notches now.

Sugar_Rush blinks at Dusk, "They are better than your run-of-the-mill marshmallows. Better tasting, better texture..."

Dusk bobs his head towards Starfire, "There's your answer!" He smiles.

Starfire says "They are not hippie pony baked items are they? she asks questioningly. "I remember Mellow Yellow. BLAH!"

Solar_Eclipse's ears perk up. He looks at the pair having a little tiff, but he doesn't poke his nose in there. He'd like to keep it, thankyouverymuch.

Dusk sees Eclipse is already learning the important lessons in life, and will grow up to be a wise ruler one day.

Apple Bloom growls, but she stands up to get soe cake. Stupid Dinky. "Ah'll have some cake."

Derpy flies into the kitchen. Mrs. Cake comes out briefly, just long enough to set out napkins and plates, after which she returns to help Derpy with the cake. The cake is a towering monstrosity, almost as big as good old MMMM, but much wobblier. (Which is saying something.) It's mascarpone-free, however, out of respect to lactose-intolerant Dinky. Instead, it seems to be flavored with cloves, ginger and nutmeg, studded with dark gumdrops, and slathered with a matching light brown frosting.

<OOC> Firefly says, "MMMM?"
<OOC> Derpy says, "All together!"
<OOC> Derpy says, "Marzipan..."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Maascarpone..."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Meringue..."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Madness!!"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom tries her best to repeat what Derpy says:
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Apple"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Vodka"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Straight"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Up!"
<OOC> Dusk says, "Well duh of course."
<OOC> Derpy says, "Blorklol"
<OOC> Firefly just blinks.
<OOC> Apple_Bloom says, "Did ah git it?"
<OOC> Derpy 6.9

Sugar_Rush frowns, "I'm a confectioner, not a hippie..."

<OOC> Firefly grins and invents a new game. Gets a fishing pole and tied a bottle of vodka on the line, casts across the room and drags is back sloooooowly.

Quasar has disconnected.

<OOC> Dragonfly says, "Apple fishing?"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom follows after it, grabbing at the bottle every now and then.
<OOC> Dusk says, "Can't be both? :-)"

Starfire says "I like to make sure....most things with 'mellow' in them were off that way."

<OOC> Derpy says, "Are hippies canon?"

Rarity has arrived.

Dusk chuckles to Starfire and nods, "The name does invoke such images. But I can say I have had some of Mr. Rush's marshmellows and have suffered no noticed ill effects, and they were quite delicious yes."

<OOC> Firefly says, "Are drunk fillies?"
<OOC> Big_Mac says, "h'lo Rarity!"
<OOC> Dragonfly laughs
<OOC> Rarity pops in, simply to give Dinky a fashionable party hat.
<OOC> Dusk says, "Look who else you attracted, Firefly. :-)"
<OOC> Firefly acks and hides the bait before Rarity sees it.
<OOC> Dinky could probably use it.
<OOC> Firefly laughs
<OOC> Dusk puts hippies in a cannon and fires. They are now.
<OOC> Apple_Bloom pouncetackles Firefly. "GIMME BOOZE."

Berry Punch is already drinking it in the corner.

<OOC> Firefly acks and uses the fifth of JD in the tackle box. "Some fish require more bait."
<OOC> Sugar_Rush says, "Sends Saxton Hale after the hippies."
<OOC> Apple_Bloom hisses ferociously at BErry Punch and advances on her with a cucumber. Remember what happened to the spa?

Starfire nods to Dusk. "I'll have to try some then, but perhaps best not to right after sweetberry punch."

<OOC> Dragonfly says, "Berry Punch is the seagull of boose casting."
"Why not?" asks Derpy of Starfire. "Cake ~also~ sweet!" She pushes it into the middle of the room and takes a giant knife to cut it.

Starfire tilts her head and smiles to Derpy. "Sweet things taste funny after drinking a sweet drink, sometimes icky funny, and its not the treat's fault. The sweet drink does it.

"But funny taste great taste! More funnies, more laugh!" Derpy does an aerial somersault.

Sugar_Rush says "My goodness! That looks like one tasty cake!"

<OOC> Dusk says, "Fairground like Tasty Cakes(tm). :-)"

Starfire laughs. "I like sweets, but not the funny ones.

<OOC> Solar_Eclipse says, "I think it's bedtime. I'm having a time keeping my eyes open tonight"
<OOC> Big_Mac gives Eclipse a hug!
<OOC> Starfire says, "Its a total Eclipse of a hug."
<OOC> Solar_Eclipse smiles, hugs all around. "Night everypony.
<OOC> Starfire says, "NIght!"

Solar_Eclipse has disconnected.

<OOC> Sugar_Rush idles a bit.

Dusk heads over with the growing crowd around the wobbling monster sized cake. He doesn't barge in though, letting mares and fillies and some others in ahead. He can just magic a slice over to himself once enough are cut up too.

Rainbow_Dash has arrived.

Firefly sees no reason just for unicorns to get in so easily, pegasi can merely hover to the top.

Apple Bloom stares up at the towering cake. She somehow ended up close to it. IT looks like it'd fall over on top of her. Nice cake. Good cake. Don't fall over, wobblything.

Derpy haphazardly whacks up the cake with a few random, vivacious cuts of her giant knife. The knife acquires so much frosting that it becomes too heavy for her to hold and slips from her grasp. (u.n) Meanwhile, the cake slowly slides into large separate chunks.

<OOC> Dusk says, "Heya, Dash!"
<OOC> Rainbow_Dash says, "Heya! What I miss? n.n"
<OOC> Dragonfly says, "Just in time for cake!"

Dusk watches the knife plunge itself tip first into the floor just before AB. The cake isn't the only thing she should be watching.
<OOC> Sugar_Rush de-idles...

Dusk blatantly teleports Firefly's slice of cake over to himself just as she picks it up. "Oh thanks."

Rarity has disconnected.

<OOC> Dinky says, "Did someone invite the rainbow brigade to my party?"

Firefly angles an ear and grins. "MOst welcome." and flicks her ear and a wingtip, the slice of cake explodes in his face throwing frosting about.

<OOC> Derpy invited EVERYPONY to your party!
<OOC> Dinky says, "...oh. Right."

Starfire can't help but snicker then laugh.

Derpy laughs first--~then~ snickers!

Berry Punch angles in to beat some of the others to cake! She nudges and elbows liberally.

"Kin ah haive some cake?" Apple Bloom wonders, but still afraid of the cake itself.

Fluttershy has connected.

Dusk chuckles and was going to give it back, but guesses she may not want it now. He grins and licks his own face clean of cake and frosting. "Mmmm pretty tasty even with no dairy!"

Firefly already has another one, and will defend it to the last crumb!

Starfire smiles to Dusk. "Does MIrage know you go around stealing snacks from royal employees?"

<OOC> Fluttershy appears!
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "(party soft)"
<OOC> Apple_Bloom hugs the Fluttertree.

Dinky speaks up. "Uh... so when am -I- gonna get any! And isn't there supposed to be something about candles or something!?"

Sugar_Rush waits in line (there is a line, right?) for a slice of the cake. One of the best things about a birthday party!

Firefly says "Candles? I don't know about that, but I could light the cake on fire if you so desire."

Dusk turns and raises a brow to Starfire, "Should steal them from some other ponies?" He sees if she has any and grins.

Starfire already ate hers, she just has an empty plate. Sticks her tongue out at him. "You were busy, so I ate mine."

Derpy looks startled, then surprised, then contrite and ashamed. "...Forgot to candles," she utters. Then she looks aghast... at Firefly.

Though if you pay attention folks notice there already are candles on each slice of the cake and even lit. They were there right? Hopefully nopony ate theirs.

Dusk magics a slice over to Dinky. Considers Firefly's again. Figures not worth blowing it up before it gets there. Gives her another. "Happy Birthday, Miss Dinky! Make a wish and blow it out."

<OOC> Apple_Bloom checks Sweetie Belle to be sure.
<OOC> Dusk says, "Is she glowing from the inside?"
<OOC> Dusk guesses instead of blowing it out, would have to blow it in.

Dinky still looks grumpy, but she can't quite recall why. "I thought th... okay, fine. What am I supposed to wish for?" She takes her cake and puts it in front of her on the floor.

Dragonfly says "Ice cream, of course."

Derpy goes and finds Dinky's pointy 'D' hat that someone made so helpfully for her! She plops it from the air on her daughter's head.
Dinky glares at Dragonfly. "Ice cream would kill me," she snaps. "And I'm not ready to die, now that I've -finally- made it to double digits." She looks up in annoyance and shakes the hat off her head angrily.

Dragonfly says "They make it without teat squeezin's ya know."

Starfire says "Milkless ice cream?"

Dinky looks confused. "Huh?"

Dragonfly says "Aye. Unusual texture, but still good."

Dinky is intrigued. "What do they make it from?"

Dusk grins, "Or maybe wish not to be milk intolerant? But really, it's suppose to be a secret!"

Firefly says "If Pinkie knows, its no secret."

Derpy gasps. "But Pinkie promise!!"

Starfire says "But she hasn't made that promise...has she?"

Derpy confused.

Starfire says "Don't you have to get her to stab you in the eye for that?"

Derpy further confused.

Dinky shrugs and makes up her mind. She nods firmly, looking dire, and steps up to her cake. She takes a deep breath, or as deep as her little, poorly developed lungs can manage...

<OOC> Dusk says, "Pinkie pops out of the slice of cake right at that moment."
<OOC> Apple_Bloom shrieks in terror and isnever the same again.
<OOC> Dragonfly says, "FOREEVERRRRRRR"

Dinky ~~BLOWS!~~ Nine of the little candles flicker and give up, snuffed out. But just like a bowling ball that doesn't quite find its strike, one of the ten flicks and flecks and dodges, and just when it looks like it's out... it flares back up. Dinky scowls, lowering her stance.

Dusk cheers her on, "Don't let it give you no gruff!"

Apple Bloom weakly raises a hoof. "Uh... y'all kin do it... Dinky."

Dragonfly says "Ya can't take no guff from yer cake!"

Dinky shakes her head, her breath spent and her hope sapped. "It's too late. I tried. I couldn't get it in one breath. You can't take two breaths, it doesn't count."

Dusk grins, "Who says? Let me see this rule book." He chuckles. Besides, made a bowling analogy, so can pick up the spare. Right?

Berry Punch produces the rulebook. Sadly, it seems to back Dinky up. "If you can't get the candles in one try, take as many as you need. Just don't expect your wishes to come true! You'll be lucky if you don't end up with a mouthful of soft wax," she recites.

Dusk raises a brow at Berry. "That's not helping!" he playfully chides.

Starfire says "Twilight is a Princess now, ask her to make a new rulebook!"

"Then why did you suggest it?" Berry songfully chides back, shutting the book. She looks at Starfire. "Good idea! Where did Princess Bookworm go, anyway?"

<OOC> Sugar_Rush says, "Afraid I'm getting sleepy, folks."
<OOC> Sugar_Rush says, "Good night, folks."

Dusk smiles and nods to Starfire, "I like your thinking, Lady Starfire!" He hmms and looks around. "Perhaps she slipped off to double check her party list."

Dinky sighs and blows out the last candle, picking up the spare handily. She then starts munching away at the cake.

<OOC> Big_Mac sorries for going idle. His phone call came in!
<OOC> Dusk puts Mac's phone call on speaker so all can hear.
<OOC> Big_Mac chuckles. It's over now though!
<OOC> Dusk says, "D'oh. *gets dialtone*"

Derpy looks forlorn for a moment. But she soon cheers up. "Have cake, everypony!!" She tosses a stack of paper plates in the air for everyone.

Sugar_Rush has disconnected.
Bardigan has arrived.

<OOC> Derpy says, "Hello, Bardi! Ginger and clovecake is serve."

Dusk catches another non-exploded one and blows out the single candle before taking a couple of bites. "Hmm, not quite the same, but still good!"

<OOC> Bardigan says, "Hello."
<OOC> Dusk says, "Heya!"
<OOC> Derpy find that very few pose anymore.
<OOC> Bardigan says, "What is everyone's orientation?"
<OOC> Bardigan says, "And by that I mean where are they and what are they doing."
<OOC> Dusk doesn't want to do all the posing. :-)

Firefly is barely awake. Affecting all of me.

<OOC> Dusk says, "We're all eating cake! With candles. Eaten or not as well. Dinky is sad she only got 9 of 10 blown out at once."
<OOC> Dusk nods to Firefly. Even her ooc'iness. :-)
<OOC> Derpy is hovering over the party, having just cut the cake with a large knife and tossed paper plates about. The cake is sliding into big chunks of ginger, cloves and nutmeg-flavored goodness with slathery frosting to match and dark gumdrops embedded.
<OOC> Dinky is munching on her cake glumly after failing to blow out all the candles on the first try.

Bardigan slips out of the shadows from the back of the Corner, his mastery of stage illusions serving him well until just now. He also had an errant paper plate land on his head, which he leaves there as he approaches the cake. "Hello, Dinky," he says to the birthday girl.

Starfire has disconnected.

"Hey," grunts Dinky to bardigan, mouth half full of cake and hair a little frosted. She tugs out a candle and tosses it on the floor.
PUB >> Dusk nods, "Watching them on netflix too. But something I wouldn't mind owning too. :-)"

Apple_Bloom has disconnected.

Dusk hangs out over by the birthday girl as well. Afterall this is a party to make her happy. He wonders when it'll be gift time too. Or if we're waiting for that sometime later.

"Ah, the old candle trick," Bardigan says with a sage nod, which makes his plate flop down from his head onto the table. "Always had trouble with that. One time I sneezed in the middle of blowing and, ah, let's say the cake was a bit less appetizing afterwards."

"All done caking?" asks Derpy, mostly cheery now because she's forgotten why she was upset earlier. She scarfs down a tiny bit of a huge slice, and chews on a black gumdrop.

Dusk is making good progress on his new slice, giving a nod as this should be more than plenty for him, though tries not to speak with his mouth full.

Firefly continues to eat cake, eyeing Dusk.

Firefly has disconnected.
Dragonfly has disconnected.

<OOC> Dusk grins and hugs, "Good night, F... doh.. :-)"
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "Aw."
<OOC> Derpy says, "So sad! First day of party was so energy! Today? Most quiet."

Dinky chuckles a little at Bardigan. "It's a trick, huh? I thought it was fate." She takes another large bite, in contrast to her fastidious mother.

Quicksilver has disconnected.

Fluttershy is here! The party has arrived! ...o-or was she already there? Um...it's up to you. "Oh, um...t-thank you so much for the cake."

"Trust me; fate isn't looking nearly as much as we think it is. Tricks are what help us get by," Bardigan replies, swiping a little bite-sized bit of cake for himself. "Sir Dusk," he says politely to the unicorn near him. "Don't let it get you down, Dinky. If anything, a candle that stays lit means it just wanted to do a good job for you." He smiles gently. "Besides, your gifts still await. Well, mine does as far as I know."

Dusk makes a bit of a face at Bardigan's description of blowing out the candles before. Though he can't help chuckling a little. Slimy cake frosting. Yum. He nods to Bardigan, "Greetings, Mr. Bardigan. Nice of you to join us."

When nopony makes loud impassioned noises about the cake, Derpy nods and sets her slice on the dangling pinata for later, probably to be forgotten. She flies over to the sign and crosses off "5. Cake". "Theeeen? Is GIFTING TIME!!" she shouts with great glee. The tower of gifts starts to rumble with instability.

[Derpy]

Dusk smiles, "Yay gifts!" He hopes they neither have candles nor get sliced up. But otherwise almost wobbly like the cake.

Vinyl_Scratch has arrived.
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch

The stack of brightly wrapped gifts wobbles and rumbles further and threatens to fall on Vinyl Scratch.

Bardigan sidles over and, with precision only a gentlecolt can muster, leans on the gift pile to apply pressure at just the right boxes to stop the wobbling.

Bardigan does this is in a very casual manner, smiling rather smugly.

<OOC> Dusk says, "Heya! :-)"

A single box slipping off the top and bouncing off Bardigan's head.

Vinyl_Scratch enters, carrying a present in her hooves and blinks at the already-existing pile.

Vinyl_Scratch waves at Bardigan. "Hi."

Bardigan, still smiling smugly, reaches out with a wing and pushes the box underneath him. With luck, everypony will believe it was always there.

Dinky finishes her cake, chews quickly, chews slowly, spits out a candle, swallows, and nods. "All right. More gifts. Who's up?" She points at a box, pretending to choose randomly but actually thinking it over, as would any foal. It's the one from Dusk. "Let's see what's in there."

Vinyl_Scratch awwws. Dinky seems oblivious to the fact that DJ PON-3 just walked in! D:

Fluttershy stands and stares. Suspense!

<OOC> Dusk says, "Start up the jams and no pony can miss! Fluttershy already cue'd up a song for us."

Dusk's gift is wrapped in simple black and white squares wrapping paper. Within is a carved wooden box that looks really old with some metal trim and a twist-secure clasp. In the wood grooves are hints of long faded colors. Dusk grins watching her unwrapping it and waiting her her to open it up.

Bardigan rubs his chin with one wing, wondering about DUsk's present. He also uses his other wing to wave at Vinyl. "Miss Scratch. I thought you'd be coming through the door by smashing it down with wubs, given what I've heard," he says, smirking.

Dinky looks at Dusk nervously. She looks back at the box. "You got me a picnic," she says. She glances indifferently at the DJ, and then looks at the twist clasp. Sighing, the unicorn clamps her front hooves over the clasp and with a great effort, opens it. She throws open the lid.

"Mrs Scratch!" corrects Vinyl with a proud grin. "And yeah, I didn't bring my bass cannon with me today. I kinda want Dinky to have ears by the end of it, y'know?" Laughing softly, the mare puts her wrapped gift on the pile. "You're lucky, Dinky," she muses. "I never got this many presents as a kid." Turning back to the playwright, she says, "You're Bar.. digan, right? I think Comet's spoken about you before. You were the guy who wrote the winter play I did the music for, right?"

Dusk chuckles a bit. "If it was, I think it'd be stale by now!" The box is only about a foot long, and slightly more than that wide. Opening the clasp and looking inside is.. what is it? Certainly in far better shape than the container, sitting in the soft lined interior is and object of deep colored polished wood with silver trim. If one were familiar they would notice it is in the shape of a mobius strip, somehow of a single solid piece of wood. "A little something I dug up in my research, Miss Dinky," Dusk comments. "The legend says it supposedly has a 'connection' with the 'other side.' But I never figured out how to make it do anything. Perhaps you'll have better luck! Or it might well be legend is all it is. Well, it does have an interesting faint glow, but only if you're not looking at it, or paying too much attention. I like that." He chuckles. "It's definitely a lot older than it looks."

Dinky spends a lot of time looking between Dusk and the object in the box. She reaches for it tentatively, glancing at Dusk to make sure it's safe to touch. Well, he says it might be nothing special, right? She picks it up and loops it over one leg--it falls to match the contour of her cannon neatly. "You got me a loop," she observes. "Huh." A little more looking takes place, and her gaze follows the roundabout twist in it. "Well, at least it's a nice loop. Thanks." She shuts the box and leaves the object over her leg.

Derpy notices the gift but doesn't understand it. Or maybe she understands it all too well. Her eyes each do a figure eight in opposite directions, and then she shakes it off and greets the newcomer. "Vinyl Splay! Hellloo! Yes, is Bardi. He is ~best playwright.~" ^.^

Vinyl_Scratch always loves to see Derpy. She runs towards the bubble-mare and hugs her tightly!

Derpy is hovering three yards up!

Vinyl_Scratch tried. D:

Dusk smiles and waves to waves, "Greetings, Lady Scratch! Welcome to the party!" Though he looks back to Dinky and watches as she checks it out. He hmmms smiles, at least seeing it didn't have any unusual reaction for her either. "Yes, a very unique loop. I have done a lot of testing on it over the years and had done about all he can. But its legend made me think of you and that it should be yours. The off chance you ever do find something out do let me know! It was used in a lot of old rituals long long ago. But could just as easily be a figure piece that didn't actually do anything." Or he just doesn't have the particular talents needed to use it correctly.

Bardigan's gift is next, mostly due to the fact that he's giving it of his own volition. It is, perhaps, somewhat stereotypical, especially for him: a journal, with sturdy, plain brown covers and many, many blank pages. But the paper is of extremely high quality and very comfortable to the touch, the covers are smooth, and there's a perfectly serviceable red ribbon that can be used to bookmark things. And he gives her an inkwell, decorated with sea waves crashing on each other, and painted a striking shade of light purple, to match Dinky's fur. "Because I know you have many things to say," he tells her, "and I know that they will be worth hearing again some day."

Big_Mac has disconnected.

Dinky opens Bardigan's gift next, indeed, and finds it charming. Her eyes actually light up at this nice but mundane offering. "Hey, thanks. " She flips through the pages, kind of enjoying their blankness. "I can probably ace my homework even better now, huh?" She looks at him tenderly, unsure what to do or say beyond that.

Bardigan only reaches out with a wing and gently brushes Dinky's forehead in a single movement. He smiles, and steps into the background once again.

Bardigan has disconnected.

Dusk watches the new gift from Bardigan and smiles. "Very nice looking quality materials." Will take a lot of writing to fill that up eventually. Dinky mentions homework and wonders if she'll use it for that, or maybe keeping some personal logs she'll be able to look back on years later.

Nimble_Hooves has connected.
BlueFeather has arrived.

<OOC> Dinky says, "Well, Nimble is here. Time to call it a night!"
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch WAS JUST POSING. D:
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch says, "Let me pose, please? "
<OOC> Dinky siiiighs. FIIINE.
<OOC> Derpy treasure every Vinyl pose!

Vinyl's present is next. It's a bit of an obvious shape; a long, thin top leading down to a sweeping curve, a round-ish shape. On opening it, Dinky will find a little guitar; small enough for her but big enough to be played properly. It's well-made, too, a fine wood that echoes beautifully when strummed. "It's nice quality, that one," she smiles. "I could give you lessons, if you wanted. Thunderfire chose it out for you."

Derpy gasps and flutters even higher!!

<OOC> Nimble_Hooves sniffs and drives everypony away with his arrival...
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch HUGS NIMBLE.
<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch isn't driven away!
<OOC> Nimble_Hooves hugs!
<OOC> Dusk says, "Heya, Nimble! Blue!"
<OOC> Dusk doesn't drive. Just walks off. j/k. ;-)

Dinky opens her mouth and eyes wide and sinks to the floor. She almost melts. "Buh--I..." She shakes her head and sees the object still there. "You know I'm clumsy, right," she mutters. "I mean, I pretend, but I got that from Mom. And no magic, so..." But she touches the guitar--she caresses it, even. "I can't believe so many ponies actually... wow. I guess you really only do turn ten once."

Big_Mac has connected.

Vinyl_Scratch smiles. "You can play it with your hooves, too. It takes time, but I think you'll get it." Knowing how little of a childhood *she* had, the DJ adds, "I wouldn't have missed today for the world, kiddo."

<OOC> Vinyl_Scratch <3

Dinky cries a little, and turns away. She pats herself on the chest. "Yeah," she says, looking at all the presents remaining and not looking back at the mare. "I guess I am lucky." A swallow follows.

Nimble_Hooves has disconnected.

Another box slides forward, soft yellow with a neat little pink bow on top. Dolly out a bit, and you see Fluttershy, pushing it with her hooves...and then retreating with bowed head. "Um...t-this is for you, Dinky."

Dinky gets herself in order... and goes to open yet another gift. She hesitates, looking indistinctly around the room. "For me too, huh?" Slowly, and without thinking too hard, she moves her teeth and hooves and unwraps the package.

And inside the box...
...is...

||* ...whatever your heart desires there to be. *||
<OOC> Dusk needs to find where she shops.

...is a little silver-topped flask, with glass sides and a tube for pouring in liquid. "Um...i-it's a hummingbird feeder," whispers Fluttershy. "A-and it also aerates sweet smells, kind of like an incense burner. I-it's designed to help give you peace and inspiration." And under *that*, there's a little slip of paper - an invitation to get a pet with full supply, just in case Dinky ever wants one.

Big_Mac has disconnected.

Dinky is just overwhelmed. It's all so much. "Everypony is so generous... it's such a waste on a little twerp like me. I just... I don't know." She takes the feeder, breathes it in, seeming actually feminine for a rare moment. But it's the paper she fondles, a funny expression settling in on her face. Ahh, Dinky. Contemplating the very idea of a pet.

Dusk leans in and gives Dinky a little nuzzle of her mane, just briefly. Not enough to be embarrassing or anything. Well not too much. "Not a waste by any means, Miss Dinky. Indeed 10 is a special birthday, and hopefully yours is going wonderfully. Lots of ponies do care and want you to have something nice, including myself."

"I-it's my pleasure." Fluttershy smiles, her eyes turning soft and dewy in turn. "Angel sends his regards, too. Um." Her voice gets a little raspy. "...h-happy birthday."

===========================

And that is where stop-ped for night! Of course, birthday was not done--still had many gifts for Dinky to open, a Pin-Yatta to burst, and a Bon Fire to burn outdoors. But maybe we stopped at sweetest moment. Maybe if had continue, would have grown scare and dark. Dinky had thought was big thing going to happen at birthday--maybe is pellet dodged!

...Or maybe? Would have cutie marked. Or would have magicked. Can never know. ;.^

[Derpy]

Finally? Because Dinky didn't finish opening gifts... is gift list!! These are the gifts Dinky was given for her birthday, roughly in order of encounter. Some are known and some are not! Will update list as more gifts become known. ;D

===============================

GIFTS for DINKY!

Quasar: An intricate wooden puzzle of all of Ponyville that he gave weeks in advance.

Thunderlane: Something in a gold and rose striped gift bag.

Match Maker: A stuffed Ursa Major.

Red Velvet: A wish of Dinky's choice, and another for Derpy.

Nettleglum: A Junior Tartarus Scout Embalming Kit with three flavours of formaldehyde.

Sugar Rush: A pegasus and a unicorn made of solid chocolate.

Twilight Sparkle: Two wrapped presents, one clearly a book and one... probably something else. (From Spike?)

Shutterbug: A rather surprisingly flattering framed photograph of Dinky.

Dynamite Rave: A song written for Dinky, performed and also written in a journal that also includes some of Twilight Sparkle's spells.

Aurichalchum: Was thinking about giving a gift, possibly tin soldiers.

Apple Bloom: A bucket of rotten apples.

Sweetie Belle: A bluish gray knit cap.

Solar Eclipse: A jar filled with a miniature night sky, and containing a night wisp.

Luna: A black lacquered box with little silver stars containing a very old suit of decorative armor made out of a pony skeleton, red feathers, and gold jointing. It belonged to Drakul the Blood Pony when he was a colt.

Dusk: In a fine wooden box with metal trim, a wooden Mobius strip which may have a connection with "the other side" and seems to glow when you're not paying much attention to it.

Bardigan: A high-quality journal with sturdy, plain brown covers, a red ribbon, and many, many blank pages. And an inkwell, decorated with sea waves crashing on each other, and painted a striking shade of light purple.

Vinyl Scratch: A small, high quality guitar. And the offer of lessons!

Fluttershy: A hummingbird feeder that releases liquid smells, and a coupon for any pet Dinky likes, with full supply.

================================

;D Truly, Dinky daughter is so blessed. If only will see!!

Are any I missed??