A cloudy autumn morning shrouded Ponyville with a dreary gray ambiance, the promise of rain lingering in the scent of the air. A particularly bored pink mare stood quietly behind a cash register in an empty bakery. Her deep blue eyes watched the clock on the wall as it ticked the day away. Each passing tick of the second hand stole her attention no matter how many times she forced her eyes away. Time was on her mind.
"Tick... tock... Tick... tock..." she muttered beneath her breath, a wobbly smile growing across her face.
She leaned over the counter and rested her cheeks against her front hooves, thoughts of the afternoon to come stealing her attention. With a deep and longing sigh, she imagined her dearest friends filling the bakery. She imagined them dancing, laughing, singing, and above all, she imagined them smiling.
A small gust of wind howled as it carried dried, fallen leaves across the dirt roads of the small town. Several quick taps snapped Pinkie Pie back into reality. She looked to her window with a pit in her heart as raindrops trailed down the glass, the smile on her face slipping into a worried frown. "R-rain?" she stammered, her eyes watering over as the sound of a baby crying caught her attention.
Several shrill creeks pierced Pinkie's ears as a tall earth pony made her way down the stairs, wiped the grogginess from her eyes and then trotted towards the kitchen.
"Good morning to you!" Pinkie greeted with a typically unnecessary sense of enthusiasm.
"Yes... Pinkie," the older mare managed between a deep yawn. "Good morning to you too, dear."
Pinkie Pie stepped into the kitchen behind her mentor as she prepared a cup of coffee, glancing to the glowing orange oven from across the room. "So, ya gonna stay for Fluttershy's birthday party?"
With a crooked frown, Mrs. Cake scratched her head with the tip of her hoof and shrugged. "I'm afraid not, sweetheart. Mr. Cake and I have things to take care of this afternoon. I trust that you'll take good care of the bakery while we're gone."
"Oh," Pinkie said, defeated as she hung her head for a moment. "Well, I'll be sure to save you some cake!"
"SHH!" The pale blue baker hissed. "Please, don't shout. I think the twins may have fallen back to sleep."
"Okay. Sorry," Pinkie whispered with overt exaggeration, then giggled.
Mrs. Cake smirked and patted her apprentice on the head before returning upstairs with two steaming cups of coffee balanced on a tray. Pinkie wore a soft smile as she watched her mother-figure and employer quietly step up stairs.
DING, a bell sounded, and Pinkie flinched.
"Ah... cake's done." She giggled at herself and trotted to the oven, biting down on a thick potholder before pulling the freshly baked treat from the searing hot oven. "Mmmm," she hummed as she set it onto the counter to cool.
"Today's gonna be a..." she trailed off, shaking her head as she looked around the empty kitchen, the howling wind her only company. "Hmm... it's gonna be a great day."
Her wide eyes and saddened frown fell into a narrow-eyed gaze of bemusement. She marched into the lobby and glanced around, ducking beneath the counters before hopping right over and tiptoeing upstares, her gaze still sharp and her mouth in a twisted frown. Gotcha!
A baby alligator stood perfectly still in the center of Pinkie Pie's bedroom, his eyes gazing eerily at nothing into the distance. Pinkie Pie lifted him into her forelegs and hugged him tightly.
"There you are, Gummy," she whispered. "Come help me get ready for Fluttershy's party. I'm lonely down there all by myself."
The little reptile stayed silent, absentmindedly blinking and flicking his short tail from side to side. Pinkie Pie regained her smile as she embraced her pet, the feeling of unconditional love warming her heart. Her eyes reopened as she span around towards her bedroom door, then her smile once again slipped away. A crinkled letter sat on her nightstand, and she cringed at the sight of it.
"Let's go..."
Gummy's eyes remained fixed on the letter as he was carried out of the room, the hallway wall breaking his line of sight as they descended into the empty bakery lobby. "Oh Gummy, it's so sad and gray today. I can't wait for my friends to get here... Why does it have to be raining?"
Sulking, Pinkie Pie pressed her muzzle against the window and sighed, her warm breath fogging the glass while the alligator sat on her back. "It's not even the good kinda rain, because it's so cold outside... We can't even splash and make it fun. Today feels so bad, but it's supposed to be a good day. I don't know how to feel."
Pinkie Pie groaned, her eyes watering as she twisted her quivering lips into a frown. "How do you feel?" she asked, taking her pet back into her front hooves.
The little gator opened his mouth and snapped it shut on the fluffy pink lock of mane dangling in front of him. "You're so silly, Gummy. I wish you could talk. I wonder what you'd say. I bet you have all kinds of interesting thoughts and ideas that you'd love to share if only you had the chance."
A small gurgle bubbled up in Gummy's throat, and he huffed through his nostrils. Pinkie Pie giggled and shook her mane free before setting him down onto the floor. "Hmhm. Maybe not. I bet you're hungry. Are you hungry?"
Standing silently, the alligator blinked several times. Pinkie Pie winked and trotted into the kitchen yet again, where she fetched a cupcake from the refrigerator. Placing it on a saucer, she hopped up to a pantry cupboard and rummaged through, pulling a small bottle from within. "Mmmm! Protein!"
She popped the cap off and dusted the cupcake with a blanket of protein powder. She then plopped the treat onto the floor in front of the scaly green pet, widening her eyes and scrunching her own cheeks. "A growing baby reptile needs his protein. Yes he does! Yes he does! Fluttershy said so..."
Pinkie's enthusiasm slowly faded while she watched the creature devour his meal in a single chomp. "I wish sugar made you hyper... What a day... so... bored!" the party pony huffed and groaned as she fell onto her back.
"Only a couple more hours until the party. That'll liven things up a bit, right Gummy?" Pinkie asked, leaning down and pressing her muzzle against his snout with wide blue eyes.
"It sure will Pinkie Pie. It's gonna be yer best party ever!" She glanced off to one side as she muttered out of the side of her mouth, forcing her pet to mouth the words she spoke.
"Oh Gummy. You're so supportive, and that's why I love you." She pulled the pet into another tight hug, twirling him around.
"I love you too, Pinkie. Oh. You better not forget to frost that cake," Pinkie mumbled to herself through the corner of her mouth.
"Oh my gosh! You're right. Let's go do it!" She dropped the alligator onto the floor as she hopped back into the kitchen with an eager grin.
She popped the top of a can of frosting and grasped a rubber spatula, dipping the tip into the pink cream. Behind her Gummy stood silently through the doorway in the center of the lobby, his tail flipping back and forth. Pinkie Pie twirled the spatula around and around, watching the silky pink paste within spiral around her utensil. Before completely losing herself in the entrancing sugary frosting, the sound of hoofsteps and jingling saddlebags stole her attention.
"We'll be back before it gets too late, Pinkie. We're trusting you to take care of the bakery while we're away..." Mr. Cake cringed for a moment before trotting into the cold drizzle, his babies tightly bundled and his wife at his side.
Pinkie sat the container down and turned to face her employers. "Okay. I will. I-I'll miss you guys!"
"Don't be silly, dear. We'll be back in a few hours." Mrs. Cake pulled the door closed behind herself before climbing into a waiting carriage along with her family.
Pinkie's ears fell flat and she turned back to her frosting, lazily plopping a pile onto the cake. "I'll still miss you..." she muttered under her breath. "Guess you won't miss me though..."
Her eyebrows lowered and a crooked frown stretched across her face as she dragged the frosting around the top of the cake with her spatula, a disgruntled breath forcing itself out. "I hate being alone..."
"Gummy, is it just me, or do my friends never want to come spend time with me when I'm not having a party?" she asked as she began spreading the frosting more forcefully.
The alligator remained silent, still standing in the center of the lobby and staring into the distance.
"You know, any time they ask me for anything, I'm always there... It'd be nice if I didn't get turned down all the time. You know what I'm sayin'?" She slung the spatula back into the jar for more frosting, flinging a line of pink goo across the counter.
With one final angry huff, Pinkie Pie hung her head and collected herself. "I shouldn't say that... My friends are here for me plenty of times. Just right now, they're not, and I wish one of them was, but how could they know that I'm lonely? Huh?" She turned to face her pet expectantly, who turned to face her.
"That's what I'm saying!" She forced her hooves against her cheeks and sighed. "Just let me finish frosting this cake, will ya? I've got to get this party set up in the next hour in case somepony shows up early," Pinkie shouted, carrying the nearly frosted cake into the lobby and setting it on a pre-decorated table.
She dragged a box from the closet and began tossing various party decor over her shoulders. Pinkie then turned to face the mess she had created, hopping through the piles and carelessly tossing them around the bakery, each piece of decor somehow landing perfectly in place.
She hopped and skipped with colorful streamers in her teeth, flicking her head back and forth while she tossed them around. With a sigh of relief, she knelt down and rubbed her muzzle against Gummy's cheek. "You know what? I don't know why I was so upset. I feel better already."
The alligator opened his mouth and snapped it shut on empty space as Pinkie trotted away. "I know, I know. I should be happy that I'm able to help my friends and be there for them whenever they might need me. All they've gotta do is say my name and I'm there... It's not their fault that they get busy sometimes. I mean yeah sure, I'm busy too and still go out of my way to do the things they want me to do, like throw this party, or whatever else! Like... like... Like whatever else!"
Pinkie Pie stomped up to the bakery door and pressed her face against the window with a wide, drooping frown. At the sight of a yellow pegasus with a pastel pink mane, her smile instantly returned. Then, at the sight of a rainbow-maned mare with a cocky smile, her smile found itself once again twisting into a frown. She glanced back towards Gummy, then forced both hooves to her temples as she fell onto her back in confusion.
"Gummy, this makes no sense!" she shouted, laying on her back and facing him upside down. "Rainbow Dash is walking with Fluttershy, and she told me she was going to be busy all day today and can't even make the party. Is she not busy all day today? Then why didn't she come see me like I asked her to because I didn't want to set up the party by myself? Maybe she just now got done being busy, just in time for Fluttershy's party and decided to get Fluttershy to make sure that she wasn't late to her own birthday party. Ah, that makes sense! Even though they're super duper early."
"But if that's not the case, what if she... I mean, I really doubt it, but what if she lied to me because she wanted to spend time with Fluttershy instead of me and made an excuse, then forgot about the excuse because like Granny Pie always said, you shouldn't lie 'cause you'll never be able to keep track of all your lies and you'll get caught in your own lie, then you'll lie to cover that lie and it just get's worse and crazier, and-
DING
"Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head with a raised eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
Fluttershy covered her mouth as she giggled, and Pinkie rolled off her back and onto all fours. "I was just talkin' to Gummy. Happy Birthday Fluttershy!"
The timid pegasus flinched as Pinkie lunged towards her, locking her hooves around her chest and swaying her from side to side as she squeezed.
"Pinkie... ack... thank you." Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut and stumbled backwards as Pinkie Pie let her go.
"It's a shame that the weather is so gloomy today, but don't let that stop you from having a wonderful birthday party!" Pinkie hopped into the kitchen while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy glanced to one another with amused smirks.
The two pegasi trotted to a table and took their seats as Pinkie merrily skipped back into the lobby with a silver platter holding up the beautiful birthday cake balanced on the tip of her nose. She leaned down and sat it on the table in front of the two mares, many unlit candles adorning it.
"As soon as the others show up, we'll light these up." Pinkie Pie winked and lifted a wrapped gift from beneath the table.
Fluttershy took the box and sat it down with a gracious smile. "Thank you so much, Pinkie. You really shouldn't have."
"Of course I should have. It only makes sense to give a birthday gift to the birthday girl. Wait until the others get here before you open it. I'm sure you'll get gifts from them too!" Pinkie Pie took a seat on the floor next to the two pegasi sitting in chairs and stared up at them.
Rainbow Dash chuckled and tapped the table with her hooves. "So, how early are we? I honestly forgot what time this thing was, and Fluttershy didn't tell me we were coming early. Shy, why didn't you tell me we were coming early?"
Fluttershy blushed and shrugged while Pinkie Pie's smile fell into a crooked smirk. "I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't think about it."
Pinkie puffed the curly lock from her face and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry if it seems a little gloomy in here guys. I was hoping the decorations would make up for the gray weather we're having."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and glanced away. Pinkie winced at the sight, then scooted backwards across the floor. "I... gotta go check on something. Be right back!"
She snatched Gummy up off the floor and hopped over the counter, slipping into the kitchen and holding her pet up to her face. "Did you see that?" she whispered. "Rainbow Dash must be mad at me, but why?! What did I do? I don't know what I did? I must have done something?"
"Uhm, Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash called out. "We can hear you whispering in there and it's kinda creepy."
Pinkie Pie froze and dropped Gummy to the floor. "I was just... Uh... I was!"
She smacked herself in the face with a hoof and shook her head. Remember what Granny Pie said, Pinkie...
She trotted out into the kitchen and took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to be creepy. Let's just try and have a good time until the rest of our friends show up."
Fluttershy nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. How's Gummy doing? Has he gotten bigger since you started dusting his food?"
"He sure has! Wanna see?" Pinkie Pie pulled Fluttershy across the lobby to the side of the front counter.
"Look at these notches!" Pinkie shouted, pointing out several small gashes carved into the side of the counter. "He's grown almost one sixty-fourth of an inch since last week. Amazing!"
"Oh wow." Fluttershy raised her eyebrow and put on a cheeky smile. "Progress is progress, right?"
Rainbow Dash groaned and rubbed her sore haunches. "Guys, I'm starting to feel pretty tired. How much longer is this thing supposed to last?"
"Oh my. I don't want you to stay on my account if you aren't feel well. Would you like me to walk you home?" Fluttershy asked, trotting back up to her winged companion.
Rainbow yawned and stretched her forelegs. "Yeah, work was rough today and my back is killing me. I need a nap."
The two trotted to the front door and pushed it open. "Sorry to miss your thing, Pink. We'll hang out later, 'kay?"
"I'll be back right after I see Rainbow home. You know I worry about her flying with sore wings..." Fluttershy explained as she stepped back into the drizzle.
"What? You don't have worry abou-" Rainbow's voice was cut off by the door shutting.
Pinkie Pie sat up against the counter, watching two of her best friends walking away together. She stood up and pressed her face against the window, her bright blue eyes watering over as she stared into the gray. "What just happened? Is she really going to come back? Is Rainbow Dash mad at me? I don't get it... it's never been like this before."
Gummy stood as silent as ever, and Pinkie Pie watched the two mares playfully bumping against one another before taking flight and disappearing into the clouds. She slumped back down and stared at the floor for several moments, then glanced back to the table where she spotted Fluttershy's unopened gift.
"You know what it is, Gummy?" Pinkie asked her pet. "I wasn't feeling myself today. It's no wonder Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash didn't want to stay. Why would they with me actin' like a big 'ol grump? It's not their fault that today's all dark and gloomy. Well, maybe it is Rainbow's fault a little, but it's not like she has a say in when it's gotta rain. At least, I don't think she does..."
Pinkie stood up and brushed herself off. "I guess I should finish making this place nice 'n cheerful for when the others show up, and Fluttershy did say that she'd be back soon too. So let's get to it. We've got friends that need to smile, because this day is sad and gray for them just as much as it is for me."
She hopped over the counter and straightened up some of the wobbly decorations, then pulled out a small record player from the closet. "You ready, Gummy? We've got work to do if we're gonna turn this day around."
