But The Story's Just Begun
Party’s Over
Pinkie Pie swept up the errant streamers that littered the floor of Sugarcube Corner. It was nighttime, and the smell of sweets and hard cider still lingered in the air.
It had been one hell of a party.
That being said, the ebbing effects of the alcohol, combined with the slow crash that only ever accompanies the end of a sugar rush, did not do wonders for Pinkie’s physical or emotional state of mind.
It wasn’t that there was anything inherently wrong with the party, quite the opposite actually; it was almost as if the party was too fun. Now the festivities were over, and she was left alone with just the memories as she cleaned up the confetti carnage. Time seemed to slow as her adrenalin rush came to an abrupt end. It wasn’t a good feeling by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a feeling Pinkie had become well-accustomed to after hosting as many parties as she did on a regular basis.
That didn’t mean it hurt any less.
Pinkie happened upon a half-eaten cupcake on the refreshment table, and tears came to her eyes. She imagined the ecstasy somepony must have felt when eating the scrumptious delight, followed by soul gripping sadness when they discovered they were too full to take another bite and finish the pastry off.
Perhaps that was how Pinkie was feeling at the moment, half eaten. If only nights could stretch on longer, if only she could spread the joy she felt to other ponies for just another minute. Alas, it was not to be. She had chores and a job to attend to, as well as a store to help prep for the next day’s customers.
Wrapping it in a napkin, Pinkie took the cupcake and sadly dropped it into the trash, feeling a vice close in around her heart. How many ponies were left half eaten, the stresses of their days or weeks or months only half forgotten? The promise of a uplifting party only half delivered? How many mares and colts came to her party seeking healing from their demons, just to have their cure ripped away from them after only half treating the disease, causing the sadness to come back with a stronger vengeance than before.
Pinkie’s hair deflated. Maybe she was just being selfish, thinking the sorrow she felt would be shared by the rest of those who attended her party; Projecting her own problems onto others so that she can make herself feel better. Maybe she was the only one left with this crippling loneliness, and rest of the ponies were simply content with their evenings, leaving Pinkie the strange one. It wasn’t fair.
Pinkie emptied the remnants of the punch bowl into the kitchen sink, feeling the dregs of her own spirit pour down the drain, tears mixing with the sweet concoction as they splashed against the cold, unforgiving steel. It was mesmerizing, watching the blood red liquid stain the sink as it made its way down the drainpipe, never to be seen again. Pinkie slumped over, lightheaded, as if her own life force were draining away along with it.
Dragging herself to her hooves, Pinkie made her way for the front room once again, if only to perform a final once over before going to bed for the night, and heard a crunch beneath her hoof.
Looking down, Pinkie picked up the object. It was a party horn with a blown membrane; Somepony must have gotten too enthusiastic and popped the mechanism. Giving it a blow only served to take her breath away. With no seal to inflate the horn, the decoration hung limply as it gave a weak squeal. Whether the noise was from the horn, or Pinkie’s own throat, was unknown to her.
As Pinkie made her way up to her room, the dread weighing on her shoulders only seemed to intensify. She was alone. Lying on her bed, terrifying scenarios started to rush through her mind. What if this was her last party? One could never know; there could be some horrific calamity that would befall one of her friends. They were the elements of harmony after all, it’s not like they lived the safest lifestyles to begin with. There were only so many adventures they could go on as a group before one of them eventually kicks the bucket. It was only a matter of time.
Maybe it would be Pinkie who dies before the others, that wouldn’t be as bad...would it? If she was gone, who was going to be Ponyville’s premier party pony? Pinkie was too young to consider taking an apprentice under her tutelage. This was not good. This was not good at all.
There was a knock on Pinkie’s bedroom door.
“Pinkie--Dearie, are you alright? Mr. Cake and I just got back in and we noticed you missed some decorations while cleaning up the shop. This isn’t like you--oof!”
Mrs. Cake didn’t have time to finish her sentence as she was tackled by the sobbing mare.
“Mrs. Cake I was so scared! I was throwing a party like I normally do and then it was over and when everypony was leaving then I got really sad and felt really lonely because I don’t know if this is going to be my last party--”
“Pinkie--”
“--and I thought, what if I die first? At first I thought that wouldn’t be so bad, but then I wondered who would be the next Element of Laughter and Party Planner for Ponyville? I haven’t taken an apprentice that can take my place when I’m gone yet because I’m too young for thinking about that at the moment--”
“Sweetie--”
“and then what would happen to my friends? I mean, they’d be sad at first, but would they finally get over it and then slowly forget about me? I’ve already been alone before and I don’t think I can take being forgotten! it’s almost worse than being alone, it’s like loneliness forgetting about me, where would that leave me then--”
“Pinkamina Diane Pie, look at me!”
Snapped out of her rambling, Pinkie turned watery eyes to the comforting expression of her Ponyville mother. Mrs. Cake led her over to Pinkie’s bed and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
“Now, let’s breathe, slow down, and start over. You’re sad because it’s the end of a party and all of your friends have went home, am I right?”
Pinkie took a shuddering breath, “Mm-hmm”
“And you’re afraid that something is going to happen that will prevent you from having such a fun time again, correct?”
Nodding, Pinkie nuzzled harder into Mrs. Cake’s neck.
“So what?”
Pinkie jerked away as if struck, taken aback at her employer’s bluntness.
“Let’s say we all die tomorrow. Now, I’m not saying that something that drastic is very likely to happen, but it’s something out of our control nonetheless. Are you going to spend all of your time moping around, worrying about the future, or are you going to cherish the time you do have? As time goes on people change, friends might move away, and there just might be a tragedy that shakes you to your core. There will be friends you have now that won’t be ten years in the future, and that being said, there will be innumerable ponies you will meet that would like nothing better than to be your best friend from now until forever. You just can’t spend all of your time dwelling on what might be, rather than what is; all that will do is tear you apart, and we just can’t let that happen now, can we?”
“Nuh uh.” Pinkie sniffled as a few curls sprouted in her otherwise razor-straight mane.
“I don’t know about you, but instead of sitting up here in this stuffy room crying, I’d much rather like baking myself some honey cookies. Not even sadness can survive in honey. How’s that sound?” Mrs. Cake winked.
Drying her eyes, Pinkie nodded, and was led downstairs where Mr. Cake was finishing up mixing a bowl of batter, plopping large portions on a baking pan. The twins Pumpkin and Pound Cake helped in what way they could; lounging on his back and licking the honey off of the used spoons. Mr. and Mrs. Cake shared a knowing look, and sat Pinkie at the middle of the counter, taking seats on either side of her.
“These are going to take ten minutes to bake, so why don’t you tell me what’s going on.” Mr. Cake was the first to speak.
Over the next few minutes, Mrs. Cake relayed the previous events, pausing periodically for clarification from Pinkie. Nodding sagely, Mr. Cake gave Pinkie a hug of his own. The twins crawled across the counter and hugged Pinkie as tightly as their little legs would allow.
The five stayed like that for a while, not wanting to break the serene peace that had been achieved with the level of emotional outpouring only moments earlier.
All good things must come to an end though, and the five were snapped out of their reverie by the smell of burning honey.
Mr. Cake, true to his jittery nature, was first on the scene. Moments later, he returned with moderately burned cookies, and halting shudders of his lanky frame. As Pinkie watched him set the tray down on the counter, she noticed Mrs. Cake wasn’t faring much better, trembling as if she were about to cry.
Pinkie backpedaled.
“Mr. Cake, they don’t look so bad, just a little...extra crispy! I’m sure they’ll be perfectly fine. Even if you two didn’t like them, I’m positive Spike could use these as snacks for days! Oh please don’t cry!”
Mr. Cake’s quaking intensified, and he let out a snort before bursting into laughter.
“Crying? Sugar, if anything, we’re about to cry from laughing. I’m sorry dear, it’s just that this brings back old memories.” Mrs. Cake gasped out as she wiped a tear from her eye.
Pinkie sat, nonplussed, while Mr. Cake continued.
“Many years ago, when I was just a colt here working for Old Man Snickerdoodle, I was a terrible baker; I would burn whatever I would try to make. No matter how closely I watched the clock, I would always become lost in my own thoughts, and by time I would come to, the pastries would be long overcooked. I never understood why he never fired me long ago. I became so nervous and absent minded, that once while fretting over what type of cake to make for the day’s practice, I walked straight into this fine young filly while she was coming home from her daily shopping.”
Mrs. Cake chose this time to chime in.
“Groceries went flying everywhere, and the carrots I was going to use for stew that night fell right on his silly ol’ head. I thought I had startled him terribly, because he started running off in the opposite direction. I gathered my belongings,--minus carrots, he took those with him-- and followed as closely as I could; which isn’t that easy, him being as tall as he is, let me tell you. Anyway, I followed him all the way to Sugarcube Corner, where he was dashing back and forth, mixing ingredients and throwing pans into ovens. It was as if he was possessed. I asked if I could help, and he had me keep the timings organized.
“We were like clockwork, wherever he slacked behind, or got distracted, I was there to pick up the pieces, and whenever I couldn’t reach an ingredient, or started to fumble, he was there to correct me.
The carrot cakes came out perfectly, just as Mr. Snickerdoodle was returning from his daily errands. He saw the cakes that my Carrot and I made, and hired me on the spot. We were ecstatic, and as we celebrated, I saw a flash, and lo and behold, my Carrot had gotten his cutie mark!”
Mr. Cake hugged his wife, and continued the story.
“Now don’t get me wrong, I still have my slip ups and faults, and I don’t think I will ever be completely free from my anxiety--”
“--but I still love him just the way he is.” Mrs. Cake planted a kiss on his cheek, earning a giggle from a brightening Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie, it’s okay to worry, within reason, over the future. Everypony does it at some point in their lives, and some more than others. What’s not okay is to keep it all to yourself. Mr. Cake, myself, Pumpkin and Pound, as well as the rest of Ponyville, we all love you. When we say that, we don’t mean just the happy and exuberant parts either, we mean all of you. We don’t care that occasionally, you display a worry that just proves you are a normal pony, we do care when you keep it all inside and let it tear you apart. Promise us that you will try your best to not worry so much about the future, and if you do, which will happen eventually, that you will come to us, or find one of your friends to talk to about it.”
Feeling tears well up in her eyes, and curls forming in her mane, Pinkie brought the two into a bone-crushing hug. Not wanting to be outdone, Pumpkin and Pound climbed up and settled themselves on Pinkie’s neck. giving hugs of their own.
“Of course I promise! You know I consider you two as Godparents to me.” Pinkie beamed.
Mr. Cake finally wormed his way out of Pinkie’s vice-like grip, heading back to the kitchen. Mrs. Cake, before Pinkie could voice her concern, explained.
“That’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about. We were returning from the Mayor’s office.”
Pinkie’s eyes widened as she thought of the implications. Mrs. Cake continued as Mr. Cake returned with a folder in his mouth.
“Pinkamina Diane Pie, would you please give us the honor of being the Godmother of our children?”
If they didn’t know better, the Cakes would have been frightened by the sheer size Pinkie’s eyes seemed to expand to. Mane and tail exploding to their former shape, Pinkie did her best imitation of Twilight Sparkle.
“Yes yes yes yes yes! Of course I would be happy to! Oh my gosh, do you know what this calls for?!”
Before Pinkie could finish her massive intake of breath, Mrs. Cake shushed her with a hoof.
“A signature would be just fine for right now.” Pinkie was given a quill.
Signing as fast as her mouth would allow, Pinkie bounced in circles around the Cake family, before bounding into the main hall of Sugarcube Corner.
Now, Pinkie knew the lights in this room were in working order, she had changed them the week before when Sweetie Belle and her friends thought it would be a good idea to try their hooves at being “Cutie Mark Crusaders Opera Singers”. If only she could find the light switch.
“Surprise!”
Pinkie nearly jumped out of her coat as the combined shouts of her five closest friends, along with dozens of others, rang out across the dining hall. Pinkie was even more surprised when she saw Princess Luna standing in the back of the room, blushing sheepishly while nearby ponies rubbed their ears from the volume of the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Walking over to her friends, Pinkie looked around in awe.
“Oh girls, this is amazing! How did you know?”
Twilight was the first to answer.
“We originally just planned for a “Happy Becoming A Godmother, Pinkie” party, but Mr. and Mrs. Cake came to us earlier in the day and explained to us the depression you go through after one of your parties, and we thought a good pick-me-up would be to combine the two causes into one two-for-one Partyganza...Wow, it’s even weirder when I say it.”
“Shoot, Sugarcube, you coulda told us about this, we woulda talked it over ages ago. Y’all know I ain’t goin anywhere.”
“Yeah, that would be like, totally uncool; seriously against my element.”
“I would have left you with one of my animals for company, I’m sure they wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
“Darling, you simply cannot let these emotions fester, it’s terrible for your mental and physical beauty.”
“Thanks girls, it really means the world to me, though I do have to ask, why is Princess Luna is here?” Pinkie gestured towards Her Majesty.
“Is it not within my realm to oversee and ensure the wellbeing of my subjects? Just because not as much happens during the night, doesn’t mean that I can shirk my duties. Also, I am interested as to the customs of the modern “Party”. I must say, I am not disappointed. What is that stuck in your mane?”
Pinkie had been in such a rush to sign the document binding her as Pound and Pumpkin Cake’s Godmother, that it had gotten lodged in her curls.
Using her magic to untangle the scroll from Pinkie’s mane, Luna read the contents, then frowned.
“This will not do. Not at all” Pinkie’s face fell and her forelock straightened to cover one of her eyes.
“Not at all. Pray tell, is this how Sister does legal proceedings in this day and age? Stars above, so much language for such a simple request. Remind me to reform the legal system, I swear, it’s like Tia lives for making stars out of match heads. Here’s how we used to do it in the court of the night.” Luna lowered her head, her horn pointing directly between Pinkie’s eyes.
Cringing, Pinkie closed her eyes and prepared for the worst. When nothing came, she slowly opened her eyes to see Luna making an arcing motion to each shoulder, along with a couple of magic incantations.
“Pinkamina Diane Pie, I dub thee Moon Guardian of fair Pound and Pumpkin Cake. So long as the stars may shine, and the moon may illuminate the night, you are bound to these two now, and forever more.” Making one final sweep with her horn, Luna cast a small orb of magic, which made it’s way down to Pinkie’s chest, before slowly spreading with a blue glow over her heart.
“I bid you good tidings. From now until you may cease to walk this earth, you are connected to these two. Shall a tragedy befall them, you shall be the first to know. Come, enough of this royal business, we are all here to enjoy ourselves, are we not?”
Pinkie couldn’t argue with that. With a spring in her step she made her way to the nearest table. Jumping atop it, she addressed the gathered crowd,
“Thank you so much everypony, without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Without ponies to enjoy my parties, what good is a party pony in the first place?”
She turned to Mr. and Mrs. Cake.
“Thank you two, for supporting me through my sad times, as well as putting up with me during my bit-too-happy times. I wasn’t lying when I said you two are like parents to me.”
Leveling her gaze on her fellow elements, Pinkie continued.
“Thank you girls, for keeping me as such a close friend. Even if we weren’t the Elements of Harmony, I couldn’t ask for friends as special as you.”
Finally, Pinkie looked towards Princess Luna.
“And thank you for coming to my party. Not only that, but making official my connection to Pumpkin and Pound. I’m sure they are thankful too.” Pound and Pumpkin, while thankful, were at the moment sleeping peacefully on Mr. Cake’s back.
“Now that the formalities are over with, LET’S PARTY!”
The party was winding down, as the one before, yet this time, Pinkie didn’t wear a frown on her face. This time, there was a smile threatening to split her muzzle in two.
Everypony was heading their separate ways for the night. It had been one of the best Pinkie Pie parties to date, one that would be spoken about for generations as “That one time”.
Luna was making her way out of Sugarcube Corner, intending to leave for Canterlot to wake her sister for the Sunrise, when Pinkie stopped her.
“Princess Luna, can I ask you a question?”
“Any time, child.”
Pinkie gained a newfound interest with the floor as she fidgeted with her hooves. “It’s just that, at times like this, the girls and I would usually write a letter to Princess Celestia, and as far as I know, even though you are the Princess of the Night, we haven’t really sent you any friendship reports.”
Luna tensed as she noted the truth of these statements. “Go on.”
“It’s just that, I feel it would be appropriate, as it is night and all, to write you a friendship report, and seeing as how you are here right now, it seems like it would be the perfect time.”
Luna smiled.“That would be splendid, Pinkie”
Dear Princess Luna,
Today I learned that it’s okay to worry about things, it’s what makes me a normal pony, but to not let it control my life, as the future is something completely out of everypony’s control. I will try to stop worrying about the future, and experience the present, as it might contain the last memories I make, and I don’t want to waste that thinking about what could have been.
I also learned to go to my friends if I’m having problems. As different as we all may be, we all have our faults. They’re not something to be ashamed of, but something to be acknowledged, something to be loved.
I love all of my friends dearly, and while I might be sad when we do finally part ways for good, I know that I will always be loved, and will always love them back.
And that’s all that matters.
Your friend,
Pinkie Pie
P.S: Can you send me some extra Moonshine? I think I quite like drunk Twilight.
