*****

Her hoof reached for the door handle, only for somepony to quickly run up beside her and grab it instead.

"Allow me, milady," he said and opened the door before her.

"Oh," she replied. "What a fine young gentlejack to grace the Gala with his presence tonight."

The donkey bowed with a wide smile. "And what a fine jennet to bless his eyes in return."

"You flatter me," she said and held out her hoof. "My name is Matilda."

The stallion blushed and lowered his head a little as his own hoof embraced hers. "My name is, uh..." He gulped and took a deep breath. "My name is Cranky. Cranky D. Donkey."

"Nice to meet you, Cranky." She smiled. "Hmm... And what does the 'D' stand for?"

"Um... Well, it's... uh..." He trailed off, looked away, and mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that, dear? I didn't quite catch it."

"Doodle."

"Pardon?"

"Ugh... Doodle," the donkey said through gritted teeth. He turned to look back at her with a frustrated expression, but she only gave a small chuckle in response.

"Honestly, does that name bother you whenever you must share it?" she said. "I find it rather endearing."

"Y-you do?" Cranky asked sheepishly.

"Of course," she said. "It's just a name, isn't it?" She held out her hoof for him again. "You've been a fine gentlejack so far, Cranky D. Donkey. Don't stop now."

Cranky chuckled and took her hoof. "As you wish, my lady," he said. "Would you like to dance?"

"Isn't it odd?" the mare asked. Her eyes squinted as she stared up at the open sky. "It's almost like She's laughing at us. Levitating a giant fireball in the sky to burn the backs of the ponies that walk under it."

Cranky placed the last of his bags onto the cart and gave a long sigh. "I guess so..."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a bit longer?" she said and turned back to him. "We're more than happy to keep you welcome."

"No. I'm sorry. I..." His hooves checked the straps on his harness. The contents of his cart rattled as he took a few steps. "I have to go." He stared off into the distance, a longing in his eyes. "I must find her."

The mare smiled compassionately. "I understand. Best of luck to you, Cranky. Be sure to visit us sometime."

"I will." The donkey bowed. "Thank you, Poinsettia. For everything. It's been a pleasure knowing you."

He started down the dirt path toward the empty plains ahead. Everypony he passed politely waved him goodbye. None tried to stop him. They all understood. Just as he reached the outskirts of the town, however, his ears perked up at the sound of somepony galloping after him.

"Wait!" Poinsettia called out. Cranky halted and turned around while she ran up beside him, gasping for breath.

"Here, keep this," she said and presented a small jar. "The finest herb tea in Flankfurt. Stops a cold as fast as you catch it."

"I... uh..." Cranky stammered. His hoof reached out hesitantly and took the gift. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Poinsettia smiled and patted him on the back. "It's the least we can do, as long as it means you won't forget us."

She glanced at the heavily laden cart behind him. "Wow... Looks like I wasn't the only one," she went on. "Are all those things gifts from friends you made along the way?"

Cranky sighed again. "You could say that..."

"Isn't this wonderful?" Her hoof caressed his side. "You finally found me, and it's such a lovely day too."

The grass formed a soft and fragrant cushion under their backs. The sky was bright blue, and no cloud was in sight. The air felt warm and welcoming, as though the two of them were in the motherly embrace of the world itself.

"It's like a gift," she went on while gazing at the sky. "A gift from somepony above. Somepony who wanted our dreams to come true."

"Yes..." He looked away and sighed. "It is."

She raised an eyebrow and turned to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"After all these years, I... I stopped caring." He shook his head. "I couldn't find beauty in anything. All I wanted was to find you..." His forehooves rubbed his eyes. A wet stain formed in their corners. "Or maybe some proof... that I have no reason to look anymore."

She smiled. "But you did, didn't you?" Her hoof gently grasped his own. He held onto it tightly, as though he were holding on for dear life.

"Yes. Right after I gave up." He rolled onto his side to face her. "In a way, I feel guilty. Like I don't deserve it." He sighed again. "Especially after the way I treated that kid."

"Who? Pinkie Pie?" She chuckled. "Don't worry, it bounces right off her. She's way more happy now that you're happy."

"Happy?" Cranky smiled and nuzzled her cheek. "You have no idea..."

A touch of warmth brought him out of his slumber. The old donkey sluggishly opened his eyes. The sun peeked in through a tiny gap in the curtain, caressing his face to end his dreamless sleep.

He glanced at his beloved resting beside him. She was still asleep. Her mouth hung open in mid-snore. Even now, in the dim light and the lack of grace in her pose, Cranky saw her as the most beautiful creature in existence. At first, he thought of waking her up, but it felt wrong to just disturb her like this. So he had a better idea.

The floorboards creaked under his hooves as he climbed out of bed and made his way toward the kitchen. His joints ached, making him wince, but he was determined to go on. He lit the stove, prepared a few eggs, some toast, boiled some water, and ground a hoofful of coffee.

A few minutes later, he returned to the bedroom, a loving smile on his face.

"Would my beloved jennet like to enjoy a meal in bed?" he said and presented the tray in his hoof.

There was no response. The shape of Matilda under the covers did not move. Oblivious, Cranky stepped inside and opened the curtains to let the morning light in.

"Mmm..." His nose wrinkled. "I hope you don't mind, I think I burned the toast a little."

He chuckled, only to trail off awkwardly. His wife remained silent.

"Matilda?"

Cranky inched a bit closer. His forehoof gave the bed a gentle shake.

"Are you asleep?"

He leaned forward until he could see her face clearly. His lips began to tremble. The contents of the tray in his hoof rattled slightly.

"Wake up, Matilda," he whispered. "Please, wake up. I made you breakfast. Wake up."

She did not move. Her face was pale. Her mouth hung open slightly, no air moving through it.

"It's time to get up," Cranky said. His voice shook. "Come on now. The breakfast is gonna get cold, and there's a whole day ahead of us."

He calmly set down the tray on the nightstand next to the bed and turned back to her.

"You're just gonna lie there all day? Didn't you sleep well?"

His forehoof reached out and brushed against her forehead.

"Cold," he muttered. "You're... cold..."

There was a sudden touch of warmth. His eyes widened, and he quickly looked down, only to find that a small patch of sunlight was on her forehead, and his hoof managed to wander into it.

Gritting his teeth, Cranky turned around and trudged out of the room. Every step felt like a heavy chain was wrapped around his hooves. It tried to pull him back, to make him see her and speak to her again. To curl up in bed next to her and join her in her sleep. But he resisted.

He stepped outside, squinting as his eyes were drowned in a bright light. The heat of the dawning sun wrapped around him. It felt suffocating. He raised a hoof to shield his face and raised his head. Obscured behind his limb was the great ball of light, staring right at him.

Cranky opened his mouth. He wanted to say something. To scream. To utter a curse. Nothing would come out. Eventually, he just turned around and went back inside. He slammed the door shut, followed by every window and blind in the house.

The funeral was held the next day. He requested that only her closest friends from town make an appearance. He was surprised to see so many ponies show up. He felt ashamed for knowing so few of them himself.

The procession and ceremony were modest. Quiet, just as he wished. It was good to know they respected him in that regard at least.

His cart was already packed and ready to go. He strapped himself in and made his way back through town. Back the way he once came in on that fateful day. His eyes bathed in the pleasant sights one last time, and cheerful memories replayed in his head.

The constant pestering along the way, however, was less welcome. So many ponies wanted him to believe they felt sorry for him. They tried to cheer him up. They thought it was all he needed to change his mind. Thankfully, with most of them, a stern look or a response in the right tone was enough to make them stop.

Except one of them.

"Cranky?"

He ignored her. He blocked the voice out altogether. His hooves kept dragging him forward without hesitation.

"Cranky!" she said and galloped after him. "Cranky, wait!"

They were beyond the outskirts now. No more houses remained in front of him. The mare still would not give up.

"Don't go!" she cried. "Please! I know it hurts, but... We can help! We're your friends!"

Go away, kid. Don't make me have to say it...

"Cranky! Listen to me! Think of Matilda! Think of what she'd want you to—"

The donkey froze. Gritting his teeth, he wheeled around and fixed her with a hateful gaze.

"How would you know?" he growled.

The words got caught in Pinkie's throat, and she all but sank into the ground. Her eyes welled up with tears as she tried not to look away. To not even blink from all the anger pouring out of his expression.

"She... she was my friend too..." she whimpered.

There was something wrong with her mane. It was all straight, nothing like the pink cotton candy she always had on. Her limbs shook uncontrollably, but not out of fear.

She was in pain. Agony from knowing that nothing she could say or do would stop him.

"Go home, kid."

Pinkie did not move. Something twisted around in his Cranky's chest. Sighing, he looked away, unstrapped himself, and went back to search through the contents of his cart, eventually returning with an old and worn blue tie.

"Keep this," he said. He couldn't bear to look at her. "So you don't forget me."

A trembling pink hoof reached out to take it, and the mare's eyes widened once she got a closer look. "This... this is the tie," she muttered. "The one that you wore... on that night..."

He nodded silently. Moments later, he turned around and strapped himself in again.

"But... but wait..." She got back up and ran in front of him. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "What about you? Will you remember me?"

He met her eyes one last time, and even managed to force a smile.

"How could I forget somepony like you, Pinkie Pie?"

Before she could say anything else, the old donkey marched past her and into the hills beyond. Everything seemed to fade out around him. Faintly, he thought he could hear her voice again, but he didn't stop. He couldn't look back a second time.

North. That's where he wanted to go. Somewhere cold and quiet to meet his end.

To find her again...

It was past noon by the time he made it over the first hill. Sweat poured from his forehead into his eyes, and his lungs burned as they struggled to draw air. Stopping to rest for a moment, he glanced up at the sky.

The burning eye was there to meet his gaze.

"You're laughing at me again, aren't you?" Cranky said. "After all this time, you still had to have the last laugh?"

The sun traveled along its arc unfazed.

"I'll never love you again. Give her back to me!"

Silence. It felt deafening. Cranky's hooves began to shake and dig into the earth.

"Oh, now you're not that strong, are you? All you can do is take away." He spat. "Then take me away! Go on! Do it!"

His eyes burned, but he stared defiantly into the ball of heavenly light. He despised it with every inch of his being. He wanted to bury himself just to hide from its warm grip.

"Scared? Or you just want to keep having fun with me?" He returned his gaze to the ground. "You'd like to see me do it, wouldn't you?"

Once his breathing managed to slow down, his legs dragged him forward once more. The sun eventually disappeared behind one of the hills. It was the last time he would let it see him roam the earth.

"I won't play along. I'll keep going."

He would march on for as long as his legs would allow him. As far as it took to escape the pain from the place he left behind.

The sun followed him relentlessly. Forests, mountains, valleys; whatever he could find to take refuge from her light, he made use of it. He cursed her every time she woke him up. He cursed the warmth she made him feel.

He cursed the day the sun rose to watch him be born. He would curse her until the day he could escape into darkness forever.

Author's Note

"Kid... you're smarter than you look..."

Prequel to another fic of mine.

Dedicated to Chained Marionette