Bonds Of Loyalty...!

Chapter 21 - Bonds of Loyalty...!

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Naruto, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight were in the park. Pinkie Pie was excitedly descripting some of the stunts she saw Rainbow Dash do the other day while Naruto watched in interest while Twilight was absorbed into her latest book. The latest project with Naruto and his scrolls had sparked Twilight's latest

"Hoof-biting action overload!" the pink earth pony was saying. "She was like a stunt superstar, flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down, swoosh!" She zipped off, then hopped back. "And right before she hit the ground, shoom!" She floated while doing this, and then landed on her hooves "She pulled up! Vroom!"

"Uh-huh." Twilight wasn't paying attention as she replied.

"Come on Twilight, don't you think it's a bit rude to ignore our friend? You'll never know when you might end up missing important information a friend is telling you if you're only half listening," he whispered to the mare who looked up, was about to make up an excuse but realized he was right. She closed the book, realizing how rude she was being.

"And then she looped around and around, like woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!" She mimicked the action with her head, eventually becoming so dizzy that she collapsed to the ground.

The pink mare wound up on her back, giving her a good view of Rainbow Dash soaring overhead. Upon seeing the Pegasus, she bounded up and raced after the blue flyer.

"Well so much for that." Naruto murmured as he shook his head. "Guess Pinkie found something more interesting to do."

"Well she certainly is excitable. I cannot say I have ever met anypony with as much enthusiasm as I have her."

"Anyway when I suggested we go to the park I didn't mean go to the park to continue to read." He deadpanned as Twilight was slowly once more giving into the temptation of words.

"Well considering the current temperature and humidity this is the perfect kind of climate to take in some knowledge. "

"What about for the sake of exercise? A healthy body can contribute to a healthy mind after all."

"I do plenty of Calisthenics," she argued only for Naruto to start burst out laughing, "H-Hey? What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh but that's it? I mean I suppose I shouldn't knock it considering with the way you look they seemed to be doing their job." Twilight's expression made Naruto chuckle. "What? Never been complimented before?"

Considering how much of a social loner she was when it came to the concept of friends she definitely had no experience when it came to dating. With the exception of her school uniform the outfits she wore were practical and kept her covered up so she was often dismissed as bookish or unflattering with most her clothing being fit and loose. There was one exception, but Twilight didn't like to think about him.

"N-Not really. Not a compliment that was appropriate or that I care to repeat." She said as she remember some of the rather derogative catcalls she had received during her days at the academy.

"Then those colts were disgusting, you are an amazing mare who doesn't deserve to be treated to such things."

The blush on Twilight's cheeks darkened under the compliment. "T-Thank you," she replied, trying to suppress that weird fluttering feeling in her stomach.

The sound of the town's bell going off alerted Naruto to the time. "Sorry I have to go. I have to go see if my permit is ready?"

"Permit?" Twilight asked, curious on what Naruto planned on buying.

"Yeah, I won't be able to survive forever off doing odd jobs and I thought about what service I could offer the town that couldn't be easily replicated and I decided to open up a dojo. There's only a hand full of ponies in this town really capable of defending themselves and I've been hearing reports of bandit activity as close as ten miles away from town."

Twilight's eyes opened in alarm. The average bandit camps usually kept a distance of twenty or maybe even fifteen miles away from towns, especially those that were near a major city like Canterlot. It was the fact that Ponyville was one of the nations near the nation's capital that incidents like raids were practically unheard of.

"That's why I decided to purchase a plot of land, my permits, and whatever else I'm going to need." This is going to set me back a good deal though. Even if I went a gemstone hunting with Rarity it'll take me weeks. I'm going to have to figure out a way to earn some more bits.

"Well I wish you luck then. Fluttershy's interview is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Two P.M." She quickly added, reminding the stallion.

"Alright see you then." Naruto remarked as he began making his way on to down town. As Naruto continued his way he ran into Pinkie Pie who was moving at near break neck speeds, from the looks of it she must have still been chasing Rainbow Dash.

"Hi there Naruto have you seen Rainbow Dash?" she asked as the blond simply pointed up and at a diagonal angle at the cloud hovering near the library.

"Naruto you traitor! We're supposed to be bros!" Rainbow Dash cried out from the cloud.

"Consider it payback for the teasing." After all one's bro has been known to pull jokes on their bros from to time.

"Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie cried out in a singsong manner.

Up came the striped mane, a wisp of cloud adhering to it over a truly freaked-out face. She looked one way, then another, and took off with enough speed to nearly pulverize the rest of the cloud, leaving only a few tufts. Pinkie, completely unfazed, began hopping along the road after her at a leisurely pace.

Naruto shook his head and went to Town Hall. After signing some documents and paying the fee he began making his way to his home to store away the permit and copy of the document that list him as the owner of a plot of land. He was going to have to figure out times he can do demonstrations in the park and drew attention while he would be waiting for the arrival of construction material.

Passing by Golden Oaks he heard Pinkie Pie's voice.

"Over to the right! No, no, a little to the left! Oh, wait! Back to the right!"

Naruto started up, and sure enough he could see Rainbow Dash was adjusting the position of a nearby cloud. Pinkie Pie was nearby, working her hands around through several angles, squinting her eyes as well. Apparently, the two were up to something, and Rainbow's patience was wearing thin.

"Now, a little leftish while staying rightly." The assistant did her best to follow this one. "Stop! Hmmm…maybe a few inches to the south! Now a couple of centimeters north! Okay, one more smidge-a-meter to the—"

Rainbow Dash then lost it. "PINKIE PIE!"

"Uh, I mean, perfect! Now, wait for my signal."

The cloud had ended up almost exactly above the front doors. Pinkie then peeked through a window.

Spike then exited the pavilion, whereupon Pinkie threw a quick gesture skyward. Rainbow proceeded to give the cloud a swift buck, causing a sudden flash of lightning that frightened Spike into dropping his scrolls before starting to hiccup. Rainbow smiled and Pinkie laughed as the cloud brought the former down to the ground.

Naruto couldn't help but murmur wow at what he witnessed. You could startle someone into getting the hiccups? He was going to have to remember that.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, we startled Spike into getting the hiccups!" Pinkie said. Everypony laughed with her.

"Good one, Pinkie Pie!" the baby dragon replied in between hiccups. "You're always pulling a fast one on me." He then picked up one of the scrolls, but hiccuped a lick of fire over it and yelped in surprise. It vanished in a wisp of sparkling pink smoke.

"Uh oh that can't be good." Naruto murmured as he realized Spike just sent a message to Princess Celestia by mistake.

"Oh, no!" Pinkie gasped. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"Nah." Spike hiccupped. "Don't be silly. Dragons are fireproof."

"Oh…okay. Good." She and Rainbow then traded a smile and started laughing again while Spike rounded up several other scrolls. Another incendiary hiccup burnt the lot and left him staring haplessly after the inadvertent mass mailing.

"I wish the same thing were true of scrolls."

"I'll tell you one thing," Naruto said in between his laughter. "I'm glad I took all my scrolls home yesterday."

"Yeeeeah…good thing indeed." Spike said as he quickly went over all the scrolls only for his eyes to widen briefly. 'Ah Tartarus. '

"Have you ever seen anything more hilarious?" Pinkie asked before falling back laughing.

Rainbow gave a wicked smile. "I can think of one thing." That "one thing" was to kick the cloud for another lightning flash.

Naruto being used to this sort of thing from Rainbow quickly jumped away from it, but it was sufficient to startle Pinkie and it left her with the hiccups as well. She started alternating between these and giggles. "I didn't take you for a prankster, Pinkie Pie."

"Yeah well that's because you aren't her usual target." Naruto remarked with a pout.

"Yeah well you usually deserve it," Rainbow Dash countered as Naruto made a dismissive hand gesture, saying bye before he went on his way. He decided to go find Fluttershy, considering most of the products she used were homemade she would be the perfect pony to turn to for items made out of nature.

As the Pegasus flew down, the earth mare had stood up. "Are you … kidding? I love to pull pranks! It's all…in good fun, and Pinkie Pie loo… to have … fun!" she said in between her hiccups.

"You know, Pinkie Pie, you're not as annoying as I thought." Pinkie gave out another hiccup. "You want to hang out?"

As she spoke, she was cut off with hiccups as she was sent flying all over the place. "That'd be, I'd really, when do, I mean, when would you…" Rainbow then stopped her with a hand over the mouth.

"A simple nod will do."

Pinkie complied and the two conspirators then smiled at each other.

The following morning Naruto was on a mission. He was going to find out Spike and find out the exact contents of that letter he sent. His face flushed with anger and embarrassment he recalled the message delivered to him by Celestia.

'I have to say Naruto I never took you for a poet. I am rather flattered by your words seeing as I did not have the faintest idea you felt that way about me, but I digress the situation with Equestria and bonding with Luna again is taking all my focus. Please do not be heartbroken that I cannot return your feelings. I am sure you will be able to find a nice filly or two in Ponyville.

Your friend forever Princess Celestia.

P.S. That face you're making is quite adorable.

The worst part was there was a tiny gem embedded in the top of the letter most likely transmitting the expression on Naruto's face. Whether or not that was the case Naruto didn't know, but he was more than sure Celestia could imagine his face at the conclusion of this letter and laughing in triumph.

Naruto was still deciding whether or not if he could back in time that he would stop himself from pranking Celestia or pranking her three times as hard. Either way this war of pranking will not end in his loss. His pride would not allow it too.

With that he walked into the library. "Twilight is Spike here I need to mur-talk with him." He called out.

Spike, alarmed, shot up the stairs before he could be seen.

"…are you sure that this friend of Rainbow Dash is really so mean?"

Naruto was about to make his presence known when he caught sight of Pinkie Pie and Twilight talking. Apparently whatever they were engrossed in was interesting enough that they didn't hear him.

"Um, yeah!" Pinkie replied as she continued to pace. "She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she popped my balloons, and she told me to buzz off! I've never met a griffon this mean! Well, actually, I've never met a griffon at all. But I bet if I had, she wouldn't have been as mean and grumpy as Gilda!"

"You know what I think, Pinkie Pie?" Twilight suggested as she didn't look up from her book.

"Hmm?"

"Well, I think…you're jealous."

"Jealous?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in incredously.

"Listen, Pinkie. I don't want to upset you, but just because Rainbow Dash has another friend doesn't make Gilda a grump. I mean, perhaps it's you, Pinkie, who needs to improve her attitude."

"Improve my attitude?" Pinkie said, stammering. "But I—but it's Gilda that—are you seri—" She then gave up on the discussion with a frustrated yell and stalked out, slamming the library door hard enough to shake the whole building. Twilight sighed as she looked up, surprised that Naruto was there. "Oh hello Naruto. When did you get here?"

"At the tail end of the conversation." He answered as he glanced where Pinkie Pie had stormed out. "Are you sure you're right Twilight? I don't think I've seen Pinkie ever react quite like that."

"She was complaining about Rainbow Dash being stolen away and her balloons being popped, quite honestly it sounds like she's being rather clingy."

"Pinkie can have a hard time expressing what she really means when she's worked up. I mean there has to be something more to what she just said. I don't know about you but I'm going to look into the situation more." Even if Pinkie Pie was the kind of mare to take offense to something like a balloon being popped she was more likely to confront the pony or griffin or something of another about being mean about it than going to complain to someone else. Naruto decided to hurry after and track Pinkie down. "Look I'll see you later there's something I have to look into."

"Okay, I'll see you later." Twilight answered, a look of confusion displayed on her face. He finally tracked her down as she was walking along the path. Something was definitely on Pinkie's mind if she wasn't traveling with her trademark skip.

"Oh, hey Naruto." She greeted him somberly.

"Hey Pinkie, look I don't know what's going on, but this thing with Rain's friend is obviously bothering you. So why don't you tell me about it?" he asked as Pinkie Pie relented with a smile.

"Okay."

The two of them went to a restaurant and ordered lunch as Pinkie Pie began telling Naruto what happened. "I think I can understand why Twilight accused you of being jealous." He began as Pinkie Pie began to visibly deflate, "…but, there was no excuse for Gilda's actions. The type of callousness she displayed could have seriously injured you or if you guys were even higher in the air even worse. She definitely needs an attitude adjustment, but to get back to the point, I do have to admit Pinks as fond as you are of Rainbow Dash you got to give her some space. Remind you of anything?" he asked as Pinkie Pie paused and began thinking about why this conversation seemed so familiar.

Her eyes practically lit up as to why this seemed so familiar. Naruto had always been more receptive of Pinkie's action, so they had developed a bond of sorts. As much as he enjoyed being around her he did one day simply told her he needed some time to himself to enjoy some peace and quiet from time to time. "Right, I understand." Initially Pinkie Pie was afraid that once more with her enthusiasm she had scared off yet another potential best friend, but was relieved that the stallion continued to spend time with her.

Just then, the sound of an overhead flight and two unmistakable laughing voices caused Pinkie to nearly upset both the table and her drink. Naruto just looked up to see two familiar faces.

"That was sweet!"

'So that's Gilda?' Naruto thought as he got a good look at her. Like the equine of this world she was bipedal with a wide beak. The head of the Griffon was white; the feathers around her eyes were a pale lavender color, while her eyes were a bright golden color. The feathers which hung from her head were white with pale purple tips. She wore a shirt which was tight on her. She wore a plain white sleeveless tank top and skinny denim shorts. Sure enough the rest of the brown furred visitor was lion from body to tail with an eagle's wings and talons on her forelegs.

"Sorry Gil, but I'll be right back. Got to take care of a few weather jobs in the area and I shouldn't take long." They then landed on the ground. "Just, uh, hang out in town and I'll come find you."

"That's cool, I guess. I'm gonna go chow down."

"Later!"

After Rainbow has flown away, Gilda looked around, and then locked her eyes on a produce cart tended to by a stallion. Granny Smith was coming over to check out ears of corn. Naruto then saw the griffon sneak into the cart and pop out her tail from the display, prompting a terrified scream from the old mare.

"A rattler! A rattler!" Granny yelled. "Run for the hills!" She proceeded to flee quickly as her creaky joints will allow—that is, not very. "Everybody run, save yourselves!"

Gilda then put her head up behind the display to see her handiwork. "I can't believe she did that to Granny Smith!" Amethyst spoke up, appalled at what happened. Most of the younger generation of Ponyville considered and treated the Matriarch of the Apple family like their own grandmother. If you ask around town Granny Smith was known as one of the most beloved and respected pillars of the community.

"How could anyone have such ghastly behavior?" this time it was Sweetie Drops who spoke up, known by her close friends as Bon Bon due to the fact she was the local owner of the town's candy shop.

Bon Bon was somepony more often or not was known for two things. Her delicious candy and her crankiness, then again when you were the favored target of lot of the town's crazy antics you would be a bit cranky too. Despite that she really was a sweetheart at heart. Today she was dress in a pink and white striped shirt with the design of her cutie mark on it, wrapped candies. She was also wearing navy blue slips and a long navy skirt. Her mane and tail colors were moderate cobalt blue with fuchsia stripes. Her eyes moderate arctic blue and her coat a light greenish gray apple.

In terms of her stature Bon Bon was a bit on the shorter side coming out at five foot five and which gave her more of a stocky look. "Considering the tension between our two species she could show a bit of tact." Bon Bon added a bit stuffily.

"This stuff ain't fresh, dude." Gilda continued to harass the stall vendor.

"How could she pull off something like that on an older pony? She could have had a health complication like a heart attack. There is no defending behavior like that."

Just then, Gilda stopped at another produce cart. With a quick look back and forth, the griffon filched an apple using her tail without being noticed, and then quickly consumed it with one chomp as she continued on.

"Why that no good rotten…" Naruto began to get up where Pinkie Pie stopped him.

"We should just go wait and find Rainbow Dash. If we confront her now it might make things worse."

Just then, they saw Fluttershy walking backwards her eyes fixed on a family of ducks she was escorting down the street. "All right, little ones." she said "This way, this way. Mama Duck, you're free and clear." She was completely clueless to what was happening.

"Fluttershy!"

"Shy!"

Naruto and Pinkie Pie cried out while the other surrounding ponies merely watched from where they stood not even trying to warn her of Gilda's approach.

"Huh?" Fluttershy helped snapped up, startled by the cry of her name only to collide with the avian woman.

"Hey!" the griffon demanded.

"Please excuse me." Fluttershy softly apologized as she nervously fidgeted, her eyes darted away from the taller woman.

"I'm walkin' here!" Gilda rudely added.

Frightened Fluttershy began to back up. "Oh…um…I'm sorry…I-I-I was just trying to—" she nervously stammered.

Gilda cut her off and mocked her tone. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She then viciously advanced as the ducks scattered. "Why don't you just watch where you're going, you featherbrain?"

"But…b-b-but…I…I…"

Gilda began taking a big inhale. Fluttershy's eyes widened in terror, her ears plastered to the back of her head, her body frozen.

"Don't you dare!"

The coldness of the statement caused Gilda to double take.

"W-Who the hell are you? This has nothing to do with you!" Stood stall and flexed her wings attempting to look rather imposing.

"When you mess with those I care about it has everything to do with me. So if you wish to walk away just turn around and walk away."

"You think you can take me on? Please, I'll tear right through you like paper," she threatened as she raised one of her paws.

"You leave them alone you bully!" Amethyst shouted as she went over to join Naruto. "You have some nerve coming into our town thinking you can do whatever you want."

"Amethyst?" He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, Ame was always rather headstrong.

"If you think we're going to let you cause trouble then you simply are a fool." Bon Bon joined Naruto on her left.

Several other ponies began coming out and shouting similar sentiments. It was at that moment Naruto realized that despite the incident with Trixie a great deal of these ponies was still kind hearted and one incident shouldn't completely color his perception.

"Whatever, I'm not going to waste my time on you emotional saps." Gila snarled as she flew off.

Suddenly, everypony in the market started cheering, Naruto a little overwhelmed at the turn out still smiled appreciatively as he waved them all off and turned to Fluttershy, still shaking.

"Are you alright?"

Fluttershy's eyes were streaming with tears but she nodded. Naruto gently wiped them away, saying, "It's alright Shy she's gone. No matter what I'm always there for you."

"T-thank you…" Fluttershy whimpered as Naruto gently helped her up.

"That was amazing Narry!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "You okay Fluttershy?" she turned to the mare who simply nodded. "Gilda is not only a meanie but a thief and there's only one way to fix that."

Naruto and Fluttershy listened intently as Pinkie Pie began explaining the details of her plan.

Later that night Pinkie's party was in full swing. As always Pinkie's party was teaming with the life of multiple ponies.

"Who's this Gilda ah heard nothin' about?" Applejack asked Rarity.

"I hear she's an old friend of Rainbow Dash, a griffon. So rare."

"You've met Gilda, right?" Twilight Sparkle asked Fluttershy, who seemed to be feeling better. "What's she like?"

"Oh…um, well…I'll tell you later, Twilight." The yellow Pegasus then approached Pinkie as Minuette and Golden Harvest were greeted.

"Welcome!" Pinkie greeted. "Welcome!"

"Um, Pinkie Pie, about this party for Gilda—um, do you really think it's a good idea? I mean—"

"Don't worry your pretty little head about mean old Gilda." Pinkie cut her off and gave her a side hug. "Your auntie Pinkie Pie's got it all taken care of."

She failed to notice that her response had left Pinkie rather vexed, and she turned back toward the door without bothering to hear her response.

"I'm a year older than you." The peagasus remarked annoyed.

Just then, Gilda entered and Pinkie jumped over to greet her. "Gilda! I'm so honored to throw you one of my signature Pinkie Pie parties! Well, It's also a welcome party for somepony else. But anyway, I really, truly, sincerely hope you feel welcome here amongst all us pony folk."

Pinkie then held out a hand and gave a big grin. Gilda reluctantly shook the hand and received a full-body electric shock that sent the griffon tottering to the floor and put an even bigger grin on the pink pony's face. Sure enough a joy buzzer attached to Pinkie's hand as she laughed over the stunt and Gilda got upright with a scowl.

Rainbow Dash also laughed as she trotted over to the pair. "Oh, Pinkie Pie!" she said. "The old hoof-shake buzzer! You are a scream!"

Gilda forced a smile and chuckled. "Yeah. Uh, good one, Pinkie Pie."

Rainbow began to trot off. "Come on, G. I'll introduce you to some of my other friends."

"Right behind you, Dash!" Once the pegasus was out of earshot, the griffon turned to Pinkie menacingly. "I know what you're up to."

Pinkie was still smiling. "Great!"

Gilda gave an exasperated groan. "I know what you're planning!"

Pinkie just giggled. "Well, I hope so. This wasn't supposed to be a surprise party. Well, not for you, anyway."

"I mean, I've got my eye on you." Pinkie then leaned directly into her face.

"And I got my eye on you." At this line, she bulged her eyes out comically on this line, then backed off to leave one rather bemused bad girl standing alone. Now standing amid the crowd, Pinkie announced, "Everyone, I'd like you all to meet Gilda, a long-time, dear friend of Rainbow Dash." She then zoomed in to hug her. "Let's honor her and welcome her to Ponyville."

As she zipped away, Gilda shot a hairy eyeball after her, but quickly traded it in for a smile as the other guests cheered and Rainbow Dash threw an arm around her shoulders.

"So I brought the Vanilla lemon drops." Naruto remarked as he walked up with a bowl of candy.

"Yo bro!" Rainbow Dash started as she threw her fist forward.

"Let's go!" Naruto finished as they fist bumped. "So this is your childhood friend?" He offered up a bowl. "Candy?"

Gilda repressed the urge to snarl, seeing the look on the lond.

"Try some Gila, Sweetie Drops makes some of the best candy I ever tasted." Rainbow Dash insisted.

Gilda picked up one with her talons. "Don't mind if I do."

At the same time, both griffon and Pegasus tossed their snacks into their mouths. Instantly, Gilda squinted her entire face up in pain as her face redden and visible perspiration seeped out of her feathers.

"HOT!" Gilda gasped.

"G!" Rainbow called out. "The punch!"

Gilda raced past her, and took a full glass from one of the tables. She then gulped it hastily…or so she thought; as it turned out, the punch was leaking out of a hole in the glass.

There were laughs from everypony. "Well, what do you know?" Pinkie said. "Pepper in the vanilla lemon drops, and the punch served in a dribble glass!"

Rainbow chuckled. "That's a rather devilish combination if I do say so myself!" She laughed as Gilda zipped across the room and successfully downed another glass, gasping for breath.

"Yeah. Hilarious." Gilda said sarcastically.

"Hey, G!" Rainbow Dash called out as she stood by a table stacked with gifts. "Look! Presents!"

Greed brought the griffon over in an instant. The griffon grabbed one and pulled its ribbon with her beak, only to have it disappear in an explosion of magical smoke which left Gilda dazed and disheveled. There was more laughter from everypony in the party.

"Fake magical can!" Applejack said to Rarity. "Somepony pulled that prank on me last month."

"Ha, ha." Gilda sarcastically laugh. "I bet I know who that was."

"You do?" Pinkie asked surprised oblivious to the fact that she was who Gilda was referring to. The party seemed to continue on without much incident.

Just then, Pinkie Pie came over with a cake loaded with lit candles. "Cake time, everypony!" she said as she pushed the cake on a wheeled platform to the center of the floor.

Spike, who was late to the party because of some errands for Twilight, walked up to it. "Hey! Can I blow out the candles?" he asked.

"Why don't we let Gilda blow out the candles, Spike?" Twilight suggested. "She is the guest of honor, after all."

Said griffon then flashed over, elbowing Spike away, her feathers back in order. "Exactly!" She then took a deep breath, blew out all the candles—and then is greatly perplexed to see them all relight themselves. Another try left her slightly winded and earned a round of laughs, when the wicks blazed back up. Several more attempts got the same result.

"Relighting birthday candles!, Spike laughed. "I love that prank! What a classic!"

"Now I wonder who could've done that?" Pinkie asked herself.

"Yeah. I wonder," snarled Gilda.

"Hey, G." Rainbow began, "You're not upset about some silly candles, are you?"

Gilda composed herself. "No way, Dash. Like I said, I'm down with a good prank."

Rainbow then zipped right over to it. "Come on, then. Let's have some cake."

Naruto quietly chortle as he watched the events unfold, walking over to join the bearers.

"Hey, y'all!" Applejack called. "It's Pin the Tail on the Pony!"

The two turned to see that she's near the door. A paper pony tail lay before her, and a drawing of the tailless animal was tacked up on the wall.

"Let's play!"

"Oh, my favorite party game!" Rarity stated with a look of wistful as she remembered the parties of her youth. "Can I go first? Can I have the purple tail?"

Gilda leaped for it and quickly snatched it up. "I am the guest of honor, and I'll have the purple tail." she said.

"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed. "Gilda should definitely go first." Naruto then produced a blindfold and walked over. "Let's get you blindfolded."

"Hey!" Gilda protested as Naruto tied the cloth over her eyes and jumped off her back. "What are you doing?" She then gave a snarl as Pinkie grabbed hold of her and gave a heave that set her spinning, and then backed away.

"We're spinning you around and around, and then you can pin the tail on the pony." Naruto explained as if It was the most simply thing in the world.

Once Gilda stopped spinning, feeling giddy, Pinkie guided the griffon right to the tail. "Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail."

"Now just walk straight ahead and pin the tail." Gilda parroted mockingly, and then gave a snort. "Yeah, right. This is another prank, isn't it?" She then walked away from wall. "I'm going this way."

"Wait! The poster is this—"

Before the warning could be finished one taloned foot came down in a splotch of frosting to send Gilda skidding and yelling across the room, straight through the bat-wing doors leading into what was apparently the kitchen. The resulting crash shook the entire house, and as clouds of flour puffed out, Gilda emerged a weary, bleary wreck, smeared with cake and various other sweet stuff. The blindfold was off, and the tail hung across her beak like a mustache.

"Uh, Gilda?" Pinkie attempted to make a joke. "You pinned the tail on the wrong end."

The ensuing round of laughter was the very last straw for the luckless griffon, who threw off all the gunk with a bellowing roar and hovered above the crowd.

"This is your idea of a good time?" she cried out. "I've never met a pitiful bunch of sad sacks in all my life! And Pinkie Pie…you!" She pointed in Pinkie's face, and then leaned to her. "You are an annoying and worthless splotch of mud with your weak little party pranks! Did you really think you could make me lose my cool?" She then slid to Rainbow Dash. "Well, Dash and I have ten times as much cool as the rest of you put together!" She failed to notice her friend's face hardens. "Come on, Dash." Gilda walked to the door. "We're bailing on this pathetic scene." The pegasus did not stir a step even as her old friend stopped at the door. "Come on, Rainbow Dash! I said, we're leaving!"

Not a single face was smiling anymore, not even Pinkie.

"You know, Gilda, I was the one who set up all those 'weak' pranks at this party."

This proved to be a direct hit to Gilda. "What?!"

"Ooh!" Pinkie said.

"So I guess that makes me the worthless splotch of mud as you so eloquently put it."

Those who knew Rainbow Dash were a bit unnerved by how calm the Pegasus was being. Hot-blooded described her to a tee considering how eager she was usual to jump into anything whether it is a fight or argument, but this was something different.

"Come on, Dash! You're joshing me!" Gilda tried to gloss over the near slur.

"They weren't all meant for you specifically. It was just dumb luck that you set them all off."

"No way!" Gilda was in denial. "I-It was Pinkie Pie! She set up this party to trip me up, to make a fool of me!"

Pinkie seemed to be genuinely surprised at this. "Me? I threw this party to improve your attitude." She then turned her head until her face was upside down. "I thought a good party might turn that frown upside down."

"And you sure didn't need any help making a fool of yourself." Rainbow added. "You know, this is not how I thought my old friend would treat my new friends. You know, when Sweetie Drops told me what happened in the market I immediately began making excuses for you. I tried to explain that being a Gryphon you were probably raised with an anti-equine bias because of our history and that you were acting out of pride, which you weren't cruel, but now I realize I was being blind. When Naruto approached me and told me Pinkie Pie was throwing you a party I thought that you could get past that part of yourself, but now I realized it was more than that. All you care about is what you can get out of others and feeding your own ego. If you aren't willing to make an effort and accept my friends and make amends for what you've done then I have nothing else to say to you."

The recipient of this tongue lashing snarled to herself and spread her wings. "Yeah? Well to Tartarus to you then. You think I care? I don't need you anyway!" The door was slammed and her shrill cry was heard to mark her departure.

Sentiments of good riddance were shared among the general partygoers.

Rainbow Dash turned to address everpony at the party. "I'm sorry, everypony, for bringing Gilda here. I didn't know how rude she was. And, Pinkie Pie, I'm really sorry she ruined that awesome party you put on for her."

Pinkie just gave a smile. "Hey, if you want to hang out with party-poopers, that's your business."

"I'd rather hang out with you." Rainbow then held out hoof to shake. "No hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings."

The moment they shook, both of them got a jolt that started the whole crowd laughing and the two pranksters joined in, turning over their hooves to reveal a joy buzzer on each."

"Hey, Pinkie." Twilight said as she walked over. "Sorry I accused you of misjudging Gilda. Looks like I'm the one who misjudged you." Thinking back to Naruto's words earlier she realized if she took what he said more faithfully this could have been avoided. Twilight decided she was going to pay more attention to what others said now to avoid this kind of situation.

Pinkie put a foreleg around her shoulders. "It's okay, Twilight. Everypony makes their mistakes." Pinkie then turned to the crowd, "Come on, everypony! There's still a whole lotta party to finish! We still got Mystic Shield as our guest of honor!"

There was laughter and cheers as Twilight gave a thoughtful smile, ideas for her next letter already underway. The party soon went by and everypony soon went on their way. Wishing all the others good night Naruto began making his way home which to his surprise Rainbow Dash was waiting for him.

"Rain? What are you doing here?"

"There's something I need to do." The Prismatic mare walked over to Naruto who simply gave her a curious look. Suddenly she embraced the blond pulling into him a warm and heart felt hug.

Naruto found himself speechless as throughout the entire time he knew Rainbow Dash they had never shared something like a hug. Soon the gesture ended, "I heard what you also did for Fluttershy. Thank you." Even if she would never admit it, Rainbow always had a soft spot for Fluttershy. The best way to get in good with Rainbow Dash was to be nice to the other mare.

"She's my friend too…I wasn't going to let anyone bully her."

"Right, either way I guess its time for me to turn in. I have work early tomorrow, take care of yourself ok." Rainbow Dash gave off a wave as she took to the air.

"Yeah, you too Rain." Naruto bid her farewell as he went inside his home.