"My cousin, Airedale, is coming in for a visit," she said. "Maybe he'll teach you some air tricks."
"Oh boy!" Baby Lofty shouted, excitedly.
Elsewhere, Buttons and Slugger began blowing up balloons for the festival. Slugger smiled at Buttons and she smiled back. Then, Fire Fly and Medley hung the balloons on the wall, making the Estate look pretty.
"That's enough balloons, you guys!" Fire Fly called. She and Medley flew away.
"Alone at last," Buttons said.
Slugger smiled. Buttons was about to nuzzle up to him when a pale yellow streak blew past them, followed by a gust of wind. Buttons' hair was in shambles thanks to that.
"Wow!" she shouted.
The pale yellow streak made it's way around Paradise Estate, basically ruining everyone's hair do. It blew Mike's wool hat clear off his head!
"What is that?!" he shouted.
"And I thought Whizzer was the fast one!" Micky shouted.
"Hey!" Fire Fly shouted as the streak whizzed past her.
"Look out!" Medley shouted, and the streak bumped directly into her and both of them fell to the ground. Lofty and Baby Lofty ran to them.
"Medley! Are you all right?" Lofty asked.
"I think so," Medley said.
"Gee whiz, I'm sorry!" the yellow streak shouted. He turned out to be a Pegasus pony, but he didn't look like the other Big Brothers. He was pale yellow like Lofty and had straight white hair. He wore a scarf and an aviator's helmet, and had an airplane on his hindquarters. He looked at Medley and gaped. He got the typical Davy Jones look of love, the stars in his eyes.
"I, uh, I hope I didn't hurt you when I crashed into you," he said.
"Oh no," Medley said, stars appearing in her eyes as well. "I'm all right."
"'Ey!" Davy shouted. "They're using my trademark!"
"Oh shut up, Davy," Mike said.
"Well, I see you two have met!" Lofty shouted. "Medley, this is my cousin, Airedale. Airedale, this is my friend, Medley."
"Hi," Medley said, softly.
"Medley," Airedale repeated. "What a pretty name. It sounds . . . it sounds like . . . like music!"
"It should," Peter said. "A medley is a group of songs strung together in a certain order and then sung . . ."
"Shh!" Mike hissed, nudging Peter in the ribs.
Lofty giggled and introduced Airedale to the other ponies and their friends.
"You really teach me to do tricks?" Baby Lofty asked.
"If you want me to," Airedale said. "And if your mother will let me."
"Please, Mama?" Baby Lofty pleaded, opening her eyes wide, trying to look cute. It worked.
"You know I can't say no when you make that face!" Lofty groaned. "All right. But be careful!"
"It . . . it could be dangerous," Medley said. "I worry about things like danger all the time."
"That's a practical pony," Airedale said. "And a pretty one. A pretty practical pony. Ha, ha."
Then he blushed. He hoped that didn't sound too stupid. Medley giggled a little and smiled. Then, Airedale and Baby Lofty took to the air to begin a flying lesson.
"I think someone's got a boyfriend!" Micky sang. The others giggled.
"It's amazing," Magic Star replied. "I always thought Heart Throb would get a boyfriend before any of us. You know how romantic she gets."
The others nodded in agreement, except Medley. She just watched Airedale cruise the skies. The Spring Festival was under way. Buttons had to go down to the Baby Bonnet School of Dance to check out the preparations for the show. She hoped Baby Lickety Split wouldn't show off like she did last year.
"Everything ready?" she asked.
"We're one baby pony short," Ember replied.
"I hate to ask. Which one?"
"Baby Lofty."
"Oh. She's out flying with Airedale. I'll have to get a Pegasus up there to get her."
Buttons left the dance hall and went to find Lofty or somebody. She ended up running into Medley.
"Medley, can you do me a favor?" she asked.
"Sure, Buttons," Medley said. "What is it?"
"I need Baby Lofty for a final rehearsal. The show's today, you know. So I was wondering if you'd get her for me."
"Sure!"
Medley took to the air in a split second, nearly knocking a blue bird clear out of the sky! She found Airedale in a matter of minutes.
"Buttons needs Baby Lofty," she said. "There's this dance show the baby ponies do every year and Baby Lofty's part of it."
"Oh, I see," Airedale said. "Sure. I can teach her some tricks later. Okay, Baby Lofty?"
"Kay," Baby Lofty said. "Let's go!"
Baby Lofty, Airedale, and Medley flew to the dance hall. Baby Lofty went directly for the stage.
"Thanks, Medley," Buttons said.
"No problem," Medley said. "No problem at all, Buttons."
Medley and Airedale flew off at that moment. Buttons got down to work with the baby ponies.
"Now all of you are a team," she said, giving Baby Lickety Split a Look. "None of you have any solos, so please don't show off!"
Baby Lickety Split nodded.
"Now, you are the second to perform," Buttons continued. "We were able to convince the Monkees to play for us, so they'll go first. Any questions?"
Nobody said anything. The seats were beginning to fill up. The show was about to begin. Buttons stepped between the curtains.
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