I started walking. I had no where to be, so I continued on the road walking aimlessly towards town. I walked through the storm in the darkness of night while staring at the ground. The rain was cool and it was chilling me to the bone, but I continued onwards. It matted my silver mane to my black coat, but I didn't care. I glanced back at my cutie mark and stopped. I stared at it for a little while. It was a silver cloud with the sun peeking out from the left side of the cloud. My gaze returned to the ground as a tear ran from my eye and down my muzzle.I couldn't go back home now, for the pain there is unbearable. I can't look forward to the future, for it is dark and excruciatingly lonesome. I pushed on, walking down the dirt road to Ponyville.
I continued to stare at the ground and sob silently. I was in my own world of misery and pain. I didn't know what to do any more, so I walked. Laughter brought me out of my self pity, and I looked for the source of the gleeful sounds. Pretty soon I found who was laughing so heartily. It was a pink earth pony mare. She was dancing in the rain, and catching a few of the drops on her tongue.
She noticed me and waved and jovially asked, "Hiya! I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?"
I just hung my head and continued walking past her, hoping that she could take a hint and leave me alone.
"Come on, what's your name? Please?", she asked earnestly. "Or at least smile.", she said as she started bouncing down the road along side me.
I pretended to not hear her and pushed onwards. 'Why can't she take a hint? I just want to be alone, can't she see that?', I thought bitterly to myself. I kept on walking down the road past the closed market stalls and stores with no destination in particular.
"Is something wrong?", she asked sincerely.
I stopped and looked into her eyes, hoping that maybe I would transmit my pain to her and she would just leave me in peace. Instead I saw a tear develope in her eye and she wrapped me into a warm embrace. She started stroking my mane and sobbed slowly.
"It'll be alright. You'll see. Even thunder clouds have silver linings.", she said in a quiet tone.
"That's my name.", I said to her.
"What?", she asked.
"My name is Silver Lining, but I'm afraid there is no silver lining in the turbulant storm that is my life.", I said quietly.
"What's wrong Silver?", she asked me as she broke the hug.
"I don't want to burden you with my problems...", I paused because I couldn't remember her name.
"Pinkie Pie, and that's part of being a good friend. Talking to your friend when they're down and mopey.", she said with a small smile gracing her face.
"We're friends?", I asked.
"Of course! I'm friends with everypony!", she exclaimed with an even larger smile.
I chuckled a little and allowed a small grin to appear on my face, but it was quickly taken away by a shiver that ran down my spine that felt like ice. She must have noticed this for she lightly pushed me towards a building that was labeled Sugarcube Corner.
I glanced back at her and said, "I doubt they're open at this hour."
"I work there, and live on the second story.", she cheerfully explained.
As we approached the door, she fished a key out of her mane which for some unknown reason was frizzy even thought it was wet. She openned the door and beckoned me inside. She told me to sit down at a table and asked of I would like some hot cocoa.
"Yes please.", I said.
She bounced off through a door to what I assumed was the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two steaming cups. She sat one down in front of me and sat in the chair in front of me. She took a sip of her drink and looked at me with expecting eyes.
"If you're looking for payment I can..."
She held her hoof up to my mouth and said, "Free of charge... if you tell me something."
"What's that?", I asked.
"Are you new to Ponyville?"
" My filly and myself had just moved here from Phillydelphia for the cleaner air and peace and quiet that comes along with a little country town. The doctors said it would be better for her."
"What do you mean?", she asked.
I sighed and started my story of woe, " Well I guess it all started with the death of my wife, Ruby Deluxe.", Pinkie gasped and covered her mouth, "She was the mare of my dreams. You remind a little of her actually. She was always smiling, was always happy. Even after we were told that she would pass on after she gave birth to our daughter Sunrise, she was smiling. 'Always remember dear, that there is always a silver lining.', she said to me after we heard the news. With tears in my eyes I said, 'That's my name honey. of course I'll find it.' She passed away about an hour later. Now I had a daughter to raise, and I had no idea how to do it. My mother helped out as much as she could, but with her disablities..."
I placed my head down on the table and began sobbing again. Pinkie Pie moved over to the chair next to me and wrapped me up into another hug.
"So where's Sunrise now?", she asked in a quiet tone.
I wiped away some of my tears and choked back the sobs, "She's at our new cottage sleeping."
"Tell me about her.", Pinkie said with a comforting grin.
"She's very brilliant and playful. She's always doing something, but she's limited with the things that she can do.", I said with a sad smile.
"Why's that?", Pinkie asked.
"A few months after she was born, my mother and myself noticed that Sunrise wasn't as developed as other foals her age, so I took her to the doctor. The doctors ran some tests, and then they shattered my world completely."
"How'd they do that?", Pinkie asked quietly.
"They... they told me that she has Tay-Sachs Disease.", I said in a whisper.
"What's that?", she asked quietly.
"It's a disease that destroys a foal's brain.", I said trying to hold back my tears, "Most children affected by this disease only live 4 years. Sunrise is 3 1/2 now."
"Oh my... I'm... I'm so sorry.", Pinkie said.
"Thank you for your sympathy.", I said quietly.
"So how... is she, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Her eye sight is fading, and she can't really hear very well. At least she can talk. She loves to talk. She's always trying to make new friends and plays all sorts of games. She," my voice starts to crack as more tears find their way down my cheeks, "she says that when she grows up, she's going to be an adventurer, just like Daring Do. Those are her favorite stories."
I could no longer contain myself. I sat there and cried and cried, all the while being hugged by this pink mare who had been a stranger to me little more than 20 minutes ago. She held me and comforted me like nopony else had ever done. She told me everything was going to be okay multiple times over and eventually when I was able to regain my composure, and the storm finally blew over, she asked if she could walk me home.
"Sure.", I said.
I don't know why but I felt better whenever I was around her, like maybe she was right and everything would be okay. We walked back to my home almost in silence. The only rimes we spoke was when we passed by something in town that she thought was note worthy. She told me about the library and their Daring Do collection, she told me about a place called Sweet Apple Acres and how their apples were the best, the Carousel Boutique and it fine clothing, the mayor's office building, and the post office. She started talking about the school but stopped almost immediately.
We eventually made it back to my home and I invited her inside. She walked in behind me and I went to check on Sunrise. I cracked open her door and peeked inside, and found her sleeping peacefully.
Pinkie Pie walked up behind me and asked quietly, "Can I see her?"
I nodded yes and she walked up and peeked through the crack in the doorway.
After a few moments she walked back over to me and said, "She's a beautiful little filly."
"She gets it from her mother.", I almost whispered.
We walked into the living room and sat down by the fire in the fireplace. Pinkie Pie talked about her best friends in Ponyville for a little while. She told about some of their adventures together and we shared a few good laughs, something I haven't had the pleasure of doing for a long time now.
Soon however the room fell silent until she looked at me and said, "Silver I'm sorry, but it's getting late, I have to go."
"Oh, ok. Um, I'll walk you back home then.", I offered.
"No, that's not necessary.", she said.
"It's awfully late, are you sure?", I asked.
"Oh this is Ponyville, I'll be fine silly.", she said as she got up. She walked over to the door, turned to me, and said, "Good night! See you guys tomorrow?"
"Yes, of course. Good night Pinkie.", I said as I watched her disappear out the door.
I walked to the window and watched her skip down the street until she disappeared from my view. I walked upstairs and entered my room. I looked at my bed and sat down on it. After a few moments I laid down and was finally granted sllep by my dreary mind.
I awoke the next day and walked to Sunrise's room. She was still gently snoring in her bed so I decided to leave her be and check the mail. I walked down the stairs and out the door to the mail box. Inside it there was a single letter and it read:
Heya Silver,
you and Sunrise should come down to Sugarcube Corner at 11:00 today. I have a big surprise for the both of you!
Sincerely,
Pinkie Pie.
I chuckled a little and heard some commotion behind me. I turned and saw Sunrise making her way down the stairs slowly.
"Good morning sweetie.", I said with a smile.
"Morning daddy.", she replied.
"Hey honey wold you like to go into town today?", I asked her and she feverishly nodded her head. The clock on the wall read 10:00 which would give me enough time to prepare her breakfast, clean up, and make it to Sugarcube Corner by 11.
I prepared her some hay flakes and hay beacon which she gobbled down rather quickly. She went and washed up and we started into town. As we approached the bakery that was shaped like a giant gingerbread house Sunrise's eyes grew large with anticipation, for she loved sweets. We opened the door, but all of the lights were off.
I poked my head inside and called out, "Hello? Pinkie Pie?"
"I'm in the kitchen, come on in guys!", she shouted from inside.
We entered the building and the door closed.
"SURPRISE!", the lights came on and suddenly we were surrounded by ponies. Pinkie Pie bounced her way through the crowd to us and stopped by my side.
She leaned down to Sunrise and said, "You must be Sunrise. I have something for you."
"What is it?", Sunrise asked.
She pulled a cupcake seemingly out of no where and gave it to Sunrise, and flashed her a gigantic smile.
She came back up to my level and asked, "This is your 'Welcome to Ponyville Party', what do you think?"
"Thank you all so much.", I said.
"Yeah thanks!", Sunrise exclaimed through a mouthful of cupcake.
The party was great. Sunrise made new friends and had fun, as did I. Sunrise was now sleeping at one of the tables and Pinkie and I were sitting in the kitchen sipping chocolate milk.
"You didn't have to do that you know.", I said.
"Yes I did.", she retorted, "It's my job to get everypony to smile! It's my life's mission."
I chuckled and looked up into her light blue eyes and saw that she was serious. This is a mare that would do anything to get her friends to smile, and that's what she did. All the way up until the end Sunrise was smiling. She was happy because of that pink mare. Pinkie Pie knew that her passing couldn't be avoided, but she could at least make her smile. She make make things seem less painful.
A few months later the day came when my little Sunrise was finally laid to rest. It was the first time I hadn't seen Pinkie Pie smile at least one time. After the funeral only she and I were still there at the grave. She turned to me with tears flowing down her cheeks and sobs robbing her of every breath.
"I'm... I'm s...so sorry.", she managed to say.
I embraced her and whispered, "It's alright Pinkie. It's alright. Please don't cry. After all the joy you had given her she wouldn't want you to be crying now."
"I know, but it hurts so bad!", she cried out.
"I know. I know, but think of it this way. She's in a place where there is no pain, no want, there's only love, joy," I pulled away and looked into her eyes once more, "and laughter."
Pinkie Pie wiped her tears away and pulled me back in for another hug. We stood there for a few moments more just hugging one another. Eventually Pinkie broke away and began walking back to Sugarcube Corner.
"Hey Pinkie," I called out making her turn around, "thanks."
"For what?", she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"For helping me see the silver lining.", I said.
"You're welcome, Silver Lining.", she said as she turned back around and walked away, leaving me alone with my little Sunrise.
"Goodbye baby. I'll see you again someday. Till then, I promise I'll keep smiling, and I'll do my best to be happy. I love you Sunrise.", I said as the tears streamed freely from my eyes.
