Confetti Surprise had barely taken two steps off her train when she was tackled into the ground by twin cannonballs.
 
“CONFETTI!” Her siblings were squealing in her ears as they squeezed her tight.
 
“Good gumdrops, you little rascals! I guess you didn’t miss me or nothing?” Connie laughed, nuzzling each of their manes playfully.
 
“We missed you so so much Connie!” Chocolate Cheesecake beamed. “It’s just not the same without you here.”
 
“Ponies say three’s a crowd, but I say I want my big sissy home.” Cream Jade was near tears.
 
“Aw, you guys are too sweet. But you’re also not babies anymore. Would you mind…”
 
Reluctantly, the two scrambled off her. Connie struggled to her hooves too, gathering her belongings back up. She looked around the station. “Mom and Dad not here to see me back?”
 
Cheesy and Creamy grinned at each other.
 
“They’re certainly not holding back the crowd at Sugarcube Corner for your welcome home party.” Cheesy giggled.
 
“Yeah, not at all.” Creamy snickered.
 
Connie smirked. “You two never were good at surprises, were ya? Suppose I should head to Sugarcube Corner then, huh?”
 
“NO!!” That the twins exclaimed together.
 
Connie raised her eyebrows. “Really? Why not?”
 
“Uh…well…” Cheesy stuttered, blushing bright pink.
 
“You’re needed at the park.” Creamy chimed in.
 
“The park?” Confetti was honestly a bit confused now. “Why?”
 
“Surprise!!” They both blurted out.
 
“So you couldn’t keep my surprise party a secret, yet the park is so important you zip your lips? Are you trying to mix me up?”
 
The two little ponies pressed their hooves to their mouths, fidgeting with excitement.
 
“Can’t speak-“ Creamy whimpered.
 
“-may EXPLODE!!” Cheesy squeaked.
 
“Okay then.” Connie smirked before gathering the twins up in one more hug. “Tell Mom and Dad I’ll be there soon. Will I know what I’m looking for when I get to the park?”
 
The two nodded vigorously.
 
“All right. Will you munchkins please take my stuff?”
 
“Okay.”
 
While the colt and filly gathered up her satchel bags, Connie stretched out her wings and took to the sky. She wondered what in Equestria her siblings were plotting.
 

 
The park certainly was a sight in early summer. The bright green leaves, the emerging butterflies, the flocks of wild birds and the gurgling of the local fountain. Confetti touched down, relishing the familiar soft crunch of the Ponyville soil. It felt so right to be home.
 
“Connie!”
 
She knew that voice anywhere. Spinning around, the mare was ready to pounce on him in a hug, but stopped dead in her tracks.
 
Lightning Bolt looked like something out of a romance novel. In front of the fountain, mane blowing in the breeze, he was kneeling down with a tiny velvet box perched in his hoof. He looked so happy but so terrified behind the eyes, as though part of his instinct was to run. But he stood firm, waiting to see what she would do next.
 
Connie walked up to him slowly. Her legs were so wobbly she nearly fell. All she could do was grin dumbly at her sweet stallion looking up at her like she was a princess.
 
“Well hello to you too Bolty,” She managed to say softly.
 
“Connie…” Lightning was biting his lip. “You look so beautiful.”
 
“Bolty…”
 
“Please Connie.” Lightning bowed his head humbly. “If you head out on the road again, I’ll go with you. If you stay here in Ponyville, I’ll buy you a house. I just don’t ever want to spend another second apart from you. I…I really do love you Confetti Surprise, and I’m sorry it took so long for me to say it. But will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
 
Connie’s jaw was on the floor. She had never heard Lightning speak so beautifully. If she had had any doubt after reading his letter, it was all washed away now.
 
“You silly stallion.” She tilted his face up with her wing. “You didn’t have to do this. I was planning on sticking around anyway.”
 
Lightning let out a choked laugh. “Really?”
 
“Yeah.” Connie eyed the fancy looking diamond in the box. “But…since you asked, yes.”
 
“Really?”
 
“Oh my Celestia YES!!!!!”
 
Connie flung herself at Lightning, nearly knocking him over. She hugged him with all her might, laughing ecstatically as tears poured down her face. Lightning held her just as hard, rubbing his cheek into her mane. She could hear him sniffling too.
 
“Connie…” He sighed happily. “I love you so much.”
 
“I love you too Bolty!” The mare squealed. “I knew when I got your letter where I really belonged. I’m no traveling party pony, I’m a Ponyvilian party planner, through and through. And I belong here, with every pony I love. But most of all, with you, you sweet sweet stallion!!”
 
Lightning wrenched himself back a tiny bit to look at her. Connie’s cheeks were hurting she was smiling so hard. The stallion kissed her, dipping her down low and holding her close. Connie felt herself melting into his embrace as he ran his hooves down her back. By the moon and stars, she could stay like this forever. But they did have a lifetime ahead of them and they were in public.
 
“Bolty dear, remember there are foals around …”
 
“Let them watch.” He mumbled into her neck. “I’m never letting you go my beautiful fiancé.”
 
Connie’s wings flared up as he nibbled up to her ear. “Please Lightning! I wanna control myself, we’re in a public park in broad daylight!”
 
Lightning sighed, but backed off. “You always were the sensible one.”
 
“That’ll be the day.” Connie grinned. “You gonna put that on me?
 
Lightning took the bracelet out of the box and slipped it on her gently. Connie held it to the light and pranced in place giddily. “It’s perfect Lightning.”
 
“Thanks Connie.” The stallion nuzzled her neck. “I was so worried-“
 
“Stop worrying, Bolty!” Connie giggled. “Like I would say no.”
 
Lightning grinned and attempted to pull her into another embrace. Connie pulled back gently.
 
“As much as I want to drag you home Bolty, my darling siblings have not-so-subtly mentioned something about a surprise homecoming party at Sugarcube Corner?”
 
“Right right,” lighting nodded reluctantly. “I’m supposed to bring you there. Your parents were optimistically planning a double party.”
 
“Of course they are.” Connie draped a wing over his shoulders and leaned on him. Taking leisurely paces, they began to walk away from the fountain. “I take it they gave you their blessing?”
 
“Are you kidding? I think your mother has been planning your engagement and probably even your wedding for years!”
 
Connie snorted. “Yeah, that makes too much sense. Well, we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
 
“Well, not too long at least.”
 
“Exactly.”
 
At the pace of tortoises, the two walked, wings draped over each other, occasionally brushing their muzzles against each other’s fur. Connie let out a happy sigh. The world could live without one traveling party pony, but she couldn’t live without the ponies who loved her. And she would never leave again.