SURPRISE!

[sailorlaughter.livejournal.com]

Characters: Pinkie and EVERYONE EVER
Content: Surprise parties!
Location: Deck 4; the cafeteria
Time of day: Evening
Warnings: None

When Pinkie Pie woke up with floppy eyebrows, a bouncy knee, and a twisty ear, she knew. Her Pinkie-Pie-Ultra-Super-Special-Birthday Sense was NEVER wrong. All throughout the day, wherever they happened to be, anyone who wasn't Minako would suddenly find themselves accosted by a pink party pony on the prowl. "HEY! It'sMinako'sbirthdaytodaysowe'regonnahaveaTOTALLYSUPERSECRETsurprise party! So don't tell ANYBODY and be in the cafeteria tonight before six okay bye!" she whispered all in one breath before darting away again, intent on informing the entire Satellite about the special day.

By the appointed time, the cafeteria was entirely decked out in red-and-white streamers and balloons, with a big sheet cake reading "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINAKO!" and covered in red frosting-bows. It was hard to see the decorations, though, what with the entire room being shrouded in darkness. New arrivals were quickly pulled through the door by Pinkie. "Get ready!" she whispered. "Terra's supposed to be bringing Minako soon!" Since Terra and Minako seemed to be good friends, she'd put him in charge of making sure the birthday girl got to her party.

Comments

ESCORT MISSION - terra & minako only for now

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Terra wasn't quite sure why Pinkie Pie had decided HE should be the one to get Minako to come to the party. Sure they were friends but he wasn't exactly the best at keeping a secret. How was he supposed to get her down to the cafeteria without arousing her suspicion? He hadn't had a chance to ask Pinkie before she'd darted off to start inviting more people and so he was left trying to come up with a plan on his own.

Unfortunately, it was time to get her and he still had nothing. Why did this have to be a SURPRISE party anyway? Terra sighed and made his way to her room, hoping to wing it even though he knew THAT probably wasn't going to work.

He arrived at her door and knocked, he figured if she wasn't there he could ask for her on the cambot network.

[verygassy.livejournal.com]

Minako was trying to figure out how to give Terra her figurine when the knock came. Should she wrap it and leave it at his door? But he'd know he was V if she did that, everyone saw her sculpting. Maybe she should be direct and reveal herself. Or-

She quickly hid the gift in her drawer at the knock. She walked over, opening the door, and...

"Aaaah!?" No way. "Terra! Why are you here?"

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Crap, she just had to ask right out didn't she? Terra's mind raced for a reason and suddenly words were pouring out of his mouth because he couldn't just stand there not SAYING something, "I was wondering if you wanted to go on a walk with me...before dinner. Everyone else is busy so..." He trailed off, eyes glancing up at the ceiling as he wondered if that sounded like a decent reason. It was true most of the others would probably be helping Pinkie Pie with the party set up and surprise, but that didn't mean it wasn't still a lie. He really hated lying but it WAS for a surprise party.

[verygassy.livejournal.com]

Oh, Terra, she thought you'd never ask! Wow, he must have figured it out! He must know! He must want a private walk to get to know her more, so they can have a romantic evening together!

"Oh, of course! Just let me get dressed, ok? I'm clearly...er...hang on."

Minako quickly closes the door at this. Three minutes later, she re-emerges. (http://i53.tinypic.com/2ugc5qh.jpg) And gives Terra a winning smile.

"SO! Let's go walking!"

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

The door shut in his face and Terra stood there wondering if maybe that wasn't the right approach. She was going with him though so there shouldn't be a need to worry, right? Terra leaned back against the wall, they could take a walk through some of the decks, eventually making their way to Pinkie's party. That should buy her enough time to set up and get the guests hidden for the surprise. Terra just hoped this walk went well since he had no idea what they could possibly talk about?

He looked up when she opened the door. That's what she was wearing to go walking. Did she really not know about Pinkie's party because that clearly looked like a dress for some party or formal event. "Oh is that what you're," he hesitated and then smiled, "it looks nice on you Minako but are you sure that's what you want to go for a walk in?"

[verygassy.livejournal.com]

"Of course!" Minako innocently bat her eyes at him. "Aah, but you're too nice! I just threw this on, after all!"

Aaaand then her arm is crooked into Terra's. And she's leaning on him. Just like that.

"So, let's go~!"

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Well, that was probably true, she'd only been in there for a few minutes. Still, didn't girls not like it to get dresses dirty or anything? Not that they were walking any where but the decks, but still. Terra wasn't sure he'd ever understand girls though, the only girl he'd really ever known was Aqua, but comparing Minako to Aqua wasn't going to work because they were just so DIFFERENT. Aqua certainly wouldn't have changed clothes just to go on a walk, let alone wear a dress. Though she would probably look good in the dress Minako was wearing.

Terra was drawn from his thoughts when he suddenly felt Minako pressing against him. He looked down to find she had hooked her arm into his and was leaning against him. Terra's cheeks turned a little pink. What was she DOING? Should he say something to her? Would that be rude? "Uh, y-yeah, let's go."

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

Of all the things Aqua had expected to see on board the ship, seeing Terra willingly walk down the hall with Minako wasn't one of them. Much less so with Minako obviously dressed up as if for a date. How she had managed to get Terra to come with her didn't even cross her mind. It was obvious that she had somehow, and that was quite enough to get her blood boiling.

Still, there was the question of exactly where they were going. There weren't really a lot of places she would have thought suitable. Besides, it was research. That was all. Research that involved following along behind the pair at a suitable distance so as not to be noticed, but that was still research.

[sailorgenerous]

This was not Ponyville. At first glance, that much was very obvious to Rarity. The stark metal walls of whatever hallway she'd wound up in made that very clear. Of course, that meant there was every reason for her to go look around and find somepony who could give her answers.

What she found instead were two...well, they certainly weren't ponies, although one of them was wearing a rather cute dress...walking together as though it were some sort of special occasion. Her desire for answers warred with her unwillingness to interrupt what might well be a romantic outing, and she hesitated, watching them go.

Lucky for her, there was another...nonpony...watching them walk. Rarity could talk to this one, yes? Although it was a bit rude to simply go fishing for information upon first arrival. Luckily, they did have a common topic of conversation. "They are a lovely couple, aren't they?" she asked, gesturing to the retreating couple.

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

Aqua wasn't terribly surprised to find another pony on the ship. They already had two ponies on the satellite and to be quite honest, the fact that she hadn't seen this one before was lost somewhere in the irritation and annoyance that was Terra walking quite calmly through the halls with Minako (and had she heard the word 'date' from out of the muffled sounds that made up their conversation? No, she had to be hearing things.)

Unfortunately for Rarity, she finished speaking exactly in time for Aqua to hear - with perfect clarity - Minako asking Terra if he wouldn't mind going on a date with her. Quite naturally, her mood (already none to pleasant) worsened further at that. How dare she ask him something like that?

"No," she answered at last, voice a good deal more snappish than it might have been under normal circumstances. "They aren't."

[sailorgenerous]

That was not the sort of tone Rarity was expecting to hear at all. The rather delighted expression that had come over her face at the mention of a date - because romance was a wonderful thing, even if she didn't quite know the context - fell a bit at that rather biting tone. "Well," she tried again, "you do have to admit that dress is quite fetching."

Her desire for answers as to how exactly she'd wound up in this rather stark place momentarily forgotten, it took her a moment to really consider what that tone of voice might mean. Just about everypony she knew would be happy to see a good romance, so either this nonpony didn't like romance or...oh, that was an option, even if it could be troublesome in these sorts of situations. "Don't tell me," she gasped, "that you're jealous of them."

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

Under other circumstances, Aqua would have gladly agreed that Minako's dress was quite lovely. As it stood now, however, she was rather hopelessly distracted by the fact of just who the dress was on. Still, she offered a half-hearted sort of nod. It would have been much nicer on oh, anyone else, but it was... tolerable as it was.

"Why wouldn't I be?" she answered, after a moment of silence to decide whether or not she actually was jealous.

[sailorgenerous]

There was a very good answer to that question, and Rarity knew it well. "Well," she started, "for one, jealousy is terrible for a friendship, or any sort of relationship, really. If you do know either of them, being jealous will only make things that much more difficult. It's even worse for romance - being jealous of an already established couple isn't going to make things any easier for you or for them. Although," and here she paused, thinking for a moment, "it is different if they're not already an established couple, but that still doesn't make it a good thing, mind you."

She paused again, giving her words a few moments to sink in and looking up at the nonpony. "The real question is, why would you be?"

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

"They aren't," Aqua answered. "She barely even knows Terra." Admittedly, all three of them had been on the Satellite for more or less the same amount of time, but still. She was being awfully clingy in Aqua's eyes if this was how she was acting after what had to be not even a month. And worst of all was the fact that she was being so terribly upfront about it. Yes, Terra did require a certain amount of bluntness at times, but there was a different between bluntness and being forward.

Still, while Rarity did have a point, actually answering her question was easier said then done. Even if it was the truth, Aqua wasn't about to simply come out and say that she had feeling for him as well. Not to a stranger, even if the stranger was not only a pony but also trying her best to be helpful. "I know I probably shouldn't be," she answered after a moment of silence. "It's just... Terra doesn't really know what to do with people fawning all over him and it's not fair. To either of us."

[buildingproblem.livejournal.com]

Having been dragged away from his methodical investigation of every square inch of the Satellite of Love by the promise of food and a very fast talking pink pony who was rather more...forceful, than the other soft spoken pink pony he was used to talking to.

Had he mentioned his life was strange lately? And that was compared to his usual day job of fighting trolls and having explosive poo thrown at him by monkey demons.

Anyway, at the moment he was currently giving a plate of drumsticks the stink eye, wondering if they hadn't tried to murder him a few days ago. Dammit all, this place had already taken his magic, now was it going to steal his love of fried genetically engineered chicken product too?

[mustbemaes.livejournal.com]

"They're not going to kill you you know," Maes replied, "They're already cooked."

He'd spotted the very tall man as soon as he'd entered the cafeteria. Pinkie Pie was throwing a party and having already tried her cupcakes, Maes was looking forward to more sweets. Of course, he was also looking forward to meeting more of the people on board and since he hadn't spoken to this guy yet, well, might as well introduce himself.

Maes, of course, hadn't expected to find the man glaring slightly at a plate of chicken. As if to prove a point Maes grabbed a plate and started putting drum sticks on it, "Ligthen up, it IS a party after all."

[sailorkindness.livejournal.com]

This Minako girl wasn't someone Fluttershy had met yet, but that certainly didn't exclude her from joining in one of Pinkie's parties. Even if this place was full of strange, nonpony creatures, it was nice to be in such an excited atmosphere again. It even managed to lure her out of her whispering tone.

Though, the fact that people were discussing eating chickens was a little much for her. Oh, she knew not everyone was an herbivore like her, but... her smile turned strained as she looked up to the two tall humans. "Well, I'm sure Miss Minako wouldn't want anyone hungry or moody while we're supposed to be celebrating for her, anyway."

She looked down the table and brightened. "Pinkie always makes sure to bring plenty of different kinds of food, if you're hungry, Harry. The salad is delicious."

[buildingproblem.livejournal.com]

"That's probably just what they want you to think," Harry muttered under his breath, holding to that tried and true piece of wisdom, 'just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean your dinner isn't trying to kill you.'

Turning away from his foe to face the other man, who he was surprised to note actually looked close to his own age. Harry had almost resigned himself to the belief that he was going to be trapped on a space station full of immortal elves, talking ponies, bird men, and hormone addled teens and young adults. Actually finding a normal looking man over the age of thirty came as something of a relief.

"Sorry, I had a bad run in with some of their distant relatives. It's sort of colored me negatively towards the whole species." Of course, if poisonous avians wasn't enough to put him off chicken, the look he caught in Fluttershy's eyes as she looked at their plates upon joining them might have. Had he not known for sure no one on the satellite could use magic, he would have suspected there was something supernatural in the filly's ability to make him feel guilty. Even Inari hadn't managed that, and she was as cute as a button.

"Hey there Fluttershy, ready to rock the house down?" Sparing another glance at the chicken, Harry sighed in resignation. "Salad you say?"

Suddenly remembering the other man, Harry turned back and offered a hand. "Harry Dresden."

[mustbemaes.livejournal.com]

Maes shrugged. He wasn't too worried about the chicken killing him (a shapeshifter had already done that back home) but he probably shouldn't push his luck. Still, it wasn't like any of his enemies were here and he really doubted Pinkie's cooking could kill...she was too good. He paused when he heard Fluttershy and smiled down at the little pony. "You could always stick to sweets. I get the feeling anything bakery related is safe in that regard."

Maes was pretty relieved he wasn't completely surrounded by ponies and god knew what else as well. It had freaked him out a little at first but he was slowly adjusting to the concept. Besides, he was in space too and that was not something he had anticipated either. Might as well just go with it or go crazy and since he'd prefer to NOT lose his mind it was "just go with it" for Maes.

He shifted the plate to the other hand and took Harry's offered one, "Maes Hughes, at your service."

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Terra had left Minako in the capable hands of Pinkie Pie and after surprising her he had slipped off to the other side of the cafeteria. He had a lot on his mind now and wasn't sure how this was going to change his dynamic with Minako. He didn't want to upset her, he didn't like upsetting people, but he knew he couldn't string her along either. Minako deserved an honest answer.

The problem, however, was that Terra had never had to deal with these sorts of conundrums before. Dating had not exactly been on the agenda when he had been training with the Master towards his one goal in life. How was he supposed to know how to deal with girls, especially girls as direct as Minako? Hell, he probably wouldn't have even realized Minako had feelings for him unless she had told him like that. But he was honestly drawing a blank on what to do now and how was HE supposed to know how he felt about her, he'd only just met her! She was nice and friendly and cute, sure, but he didn't know her. Shouldn't a relationship develop first BEFORE they started dating.

Terra sighed and started pouring himself punch. Normally he might go to Aqua or Ven about this, but Ven wasn't here and Aqua had been acting really strange lately, especially around Minako. No, she wouldn't want to hear about this.

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

It was perhaps not for the reasons that Terra had hoped to speak with Aqua. She'd heard more than enough that she cared to about Minako and her attempts, and tonight had been the final straw. Aqua couldn't keep silent about it any longer.

Whether or not Rarity's words had made a difference in her feelings, or her views on them, she was going to get what she meant to said. She'd been quite for too long, and maybe, just maybe Terra would realize that there was a reason she hadn't ever liked Minako. He'd already realized that one person had some kind of feeling for him, after all. What was one more?

With that in mind she wasted no time in heading over to where Terra was standing. "Could I speak with you?"

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Aqua, Terra looked up when she came up to him. She did not look happy which was not like her. True, she wasn't one to bounce around like Pinkie Pie, but he could at least expect her to smile at a party. He wasn't sure if he should be worried or not.

Terra set his punch aside, "Sure. What's on your mind?"

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

Most parties weren't for people that Aqua didn't much care for. As a matter of fact, she hadn't even known it was a party until she'd arrived, hot on Terra's heels. Nor was she exactly sure it entirely excused the fact that Terra had brought Minako to the party in the first place.

"I heard what she asked you. About going on a date."

[eroded-earth.livejournal.com]

Terra had not really expected that particular conversation topic. He was surprised at first but then it slowly turned into a frown. "So you were eavesdropping?" He felt his anger flare up briefly, recalling a similar conversation that had occurred not too long ago on Radiant Garden. Terra did not want to relive that fight but he couldn't help it if Aqua knew the exact WRONG thing to say.

"And what's your point anyway? It was a private conversation but clearly you have something you want to say about it."

[wavesinherheart.livejournal.com]

"I didn't want to," Aqua snapped back. "It's not my fault if her voice happened to carry." Yes, she had been following them, but she had very deliberately made sure that she couldn't have been accused of eavesdropping any more than she could have when she'd been told of the things Terra had done on his trips through the worlds.

(Not that that conversation had gone particularly well either, but Aqua wasn't really thinking about that now, in the heat of the moment.)

"I don't think you should date her."