The Gift of Laughter

by Harmony Charmer

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, King Sombra, Tragedy, Pinkie Pie, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 3202

Sombra must come to terms with losing the greatest gift he's ever received... but was too stupid to realize it when she gave it to him.

Sombra didn't know that he would miss her. When she left his world, he didn't think anything would change. But, things did change; he just found out too late.

This is dedicated to a recently lost classmate who touched not only my life, but everyone around her. I hope you smile, smile, smile up in Heaven, sweetheart.

Published 2014-02-12 07:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-12 07:40:02 UTC

Stupid Mare

The flat line resonated throughout the room, it's heavy meaning reaching it's inhabitants. Despite the many efforts of the doctors and nurses, the sound only continued on, as it had for the past few minutes. The expert medical team bowed their heads in collective sorrow at their failure to resuscitate the forever slumbering mare; a mare who had touched each of their lives in a unique way.

The leading doctor pulled his mask down and cursed under his breath as he screwed his eyes shut, trying to force back the tears that collected in his eyes. The nurse to his right fared no better, her hoof held up to her mouth to prevent any sobs from escaping her lips. The doctor opened his eyes and dared to face the lifeless mare, the sight of her causing him pain and frustration at himself.

"Nurse Redheart," he requested quietly, as to avoid his voice from breaking, "the time, if you will." Nurse Redheart nodded at the doctor weakly, then held up her hoof, her eyes growing wet as she gazed at the silly watch. It had been a gift from her, many years ago. How it still remained right, to the second, she'd never know.

Whenever Redheart asked her what time it was, she would always receive the same answer: "Time for you to get a watch!" The joke had gotten old quickly and once she had caught wind of it, Redheart found herself with the wacky colored watch as an everyday accessory.

"8:42 A.M., the 24th of May," she told him, her voice breaking partway through. The doctor gave her a nod, his silent way of thanking her, then made his way to the door which lead to where all her friends had been ushered out. Among those friends was none other than Princess Twilight Sparkle, the one to pay for her dear friend's recent procedures.

He took a deep breath to prepare himself for the troubles he knew he would face and opened the door. The waiting room was full of ponies that day, no doubt waiting for news on their friend's condition. It being a small town, it wasn't hard for the doctor to recognize the faces of what he assumed to be half the town. They had all spent the previous night in the waiting room, anticipating any news on their dear friend's condition.

"How is she?" a voice called out from above. The doctor looked up to see Rainbow Dash, hovering in the air in anticipation.

"Is she going to be alright?" asked another, who he recognized as Rarity, the town's local dressmaker. Twilight stepped up, a troubled frown playing across her features. Beside her was a rather new pony and friend of Pinkie's, but the doctor couldn't place his name, despite his interesting appearance.

He was a stallion of tall stature, with the physique that rivaled that of a Royal Guard. His eyes were a dark, ruby red, matching the color of his exotically curved horn that protruded from his head. He wore a matching red scarf, far too long for him alone, but if he cared, it didn't show. The doctor, along with many others, assumed that he was the patient's coltfriend, but nopony could say for sure.

"Doctor," Twilight addressed calmly, "how is Pinkie?" The doctor felt his heart cringe at the mention of her name and he took a ragged breath before answering.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," he whispered, looking down, "we... we weren't able to save her." He winced as he heard the collective gasp, then silence that swept over the crowd.

"What?" Applejack blurted out, "Do you mean she's..."

"...gone?" a broken voice finished. The group turned to look at Fluttershy, who was shaking like a leaf in the wind of a storm. She began to whimper quietly, her breathing becoming erratic as she rose into hysteria. After a few moments of hyperventilation, she screwed her eyes shut and let out a screech of emotional pain, releasing her inner turmoil.

"Fluttershy!" Rarity breathed, putting a hoof to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. She rushed over to her sobbing friend, who had collapsed to the floor in a heap. She wrapped her wings around herself in an effort to escape the prying eyes of the many ponies around her, but it did little to cover her hiccups and sobs.

"I-it isn't f-f-fair!" she screamed, sobbing again. Applejack and Rarity laid down next to the hysterical pegasus and pulled her into one armed hugs.

"I know it isn't, Sugarcube," Applejack told her, wiping her leaking eyes, "but it doesn't make it worse for her." Fluttershy let out another sob and pulled her wings in closer. Rarity's face was messy with black streaks of tears coating her cheeks and it only grew worse as the tears continued to fall.

"Applejack is right, dear," she whispered, trying to offer her consolation, "she's not suffering anymore. Right, Rainbow D- Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did she go?" Twilight asked, her sadness briefly forgotten. The crowd's curious murmurs were broken through by a loud gasp.

"Look outside!" Scootaloo shouted, pointing a hoof at the large windows in the waiting room. The crowd gasped as they saw Rainbow Dash zooming away from the hospital at top speed. A white cone had formed at the front of her hooves and just as her hooves broke through the small barrier, a large circle of colors followed after, expanding endlessly.

"Rainbow..." Twilight murmured. Rainbow rarely got so upset over anything and the fact that she had done a Sonic Rainboom to get away from the sadness within the hospital just went to show how heartbroken the rainbow maned mare really was.

"Where'd Sombra go?" Rarity inquired, looking around the waiting room. Twilight turned around, expecting to see the dark unicorn, but he appeared to have vanished. As she looked around the room, she turned just in time to see Sombra's tail as it disappeared out of the exit to the hospital.

'I didn't even stop to think how he was feeling!' she thought, chiding herself for not thinking selflessly. She rushed out after him, earning a few calls from the remainder of her friends, but she ignored them.

"Sombra!" she called as she exited the hospital. He stopped walking, but he didn't turn to look at her. She skidded to a stop and let out a small breath to released the tension in her chest, but to no avail. "I know this is very hard," Twilight said, swallowing the lump that threatened to form in her throat, "but, we shouldn't let this get to us; Pinkie wouldn't want that."

Sombra stood there for a moment, then he turned to look at Twilight. His face showed no emotion whatsoever, and if it did, it was apathetic at best.

"We don't know what she wants," he said simply, "because she isn't here." Twilight gaped at him, completely shocked.

'He's so... calm,' she thought, her jaw still slacked open. He sighed, as if he were annoyed.

"I've seen many things in my lifespan, Twilight," he told her, "death is not an exception to that list. Pinkie dying doesn't change that." Twilight regained some of her sense and narrowed her eyes at him angrily.

"How can you say that?" she bellowed, "Pinkie was your friend, remember?" Sombra let out a small snort, causing Twilight's anger to rise exponentially.

"She was my reformer, remember?" he replied mockingly, "The only reason she did what she did was because you, Her Majesty, told her to, not to mention Celestia." He turned around and looked at her over his shoulder as he prepared to leave.

"But..." Twilight trailed off, then forced herself to swallow her negative emotions, "I thought that you two--"

"No," he replied firmly, "don't believe what Rarity tells you; there was no chance of anything ever happening between us." He stalked off, facing straight ahead as he kept his vigil.

Twilight felt herself fall to the ground as she absorbed the full weight of Sombra's words. Pinkie had confided with her a couple weeks ago, before any of them knew about her condition, that she had a small attraction to Sombra. Although it absolutely flabbergasted Twilight, she was supportive of her friend's attempts to earn Sombra's affections, no matter how futile.

'He didn't...' she tried to think, 'not even a little?'

It hurt her very being to know that he didn't return Pinkie's feelings. She put so much time and energy into making ponies happy, the most of her efforts being wasted on Sombra. She loved to see the smiles that she created and to know that she was the reason behind it was what made her Pinkie. The only one to not see her tremendous gift was the one who she really needed to smile, even it was just a little.

But, it was too late; and Twilight didn't think that Sombra knew that.

* * *

Pinkie's death was caused by her own doing, in a way. A few years prior to her passing, Pinkie had gone in for an annual check up, only to find that she had a small tumor developing on her brain. It could be easily removed, but she lacked the funds and the courage to do so.

The doctors had told her that in doing the procedure, she could be emotionally handicapped for the rest of her life; she would never be able to feel the same or be able to comprehend other's emotions like a normal pony. So, she refused the procedure and in doing so, her tumor had spread, becoming malignant.

Nopony had any idea that something was wrong with her; she was fine, for the most part. She would continue to smile and laugh, not letting anypony know about the horrible thing within her head. It wasn't until Mrs.Cake found her in her room, flopping around horrendously, that she figured out what was going on.

The news of Pinkie's condition spread like wildfire and everypony who knew her, which was everypony, was absolutely devastated. The fillies that Pinkie visited at school had gathered together and made a "Get Well Soon" card, which held the different, crayon signatures of every filly and colt in Cheerilee's class(including Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon). The poor kids had no idea what was happening, but that didn't stop them from offering their love and support.

Pinkie ended up staying in the hospital 24/7 and her normal, chatty, hyperactive behavior became quieter and more stimulated as her condition grew worse. After weeks of her stay in the hospital, she stopped talking all together and soon, the doctors had to cut off visitation so nopony could disturb her.

Everypony had been anticipating her passing for awhile now, but it hadn't made it less surprising when she took a sudden turn for the worse. After trying to stay alive, just for the sake of her friends, all of her strength ran out and she finally left her friends.

Sombra knew that Pinkie wasn't going to make it; nopony could survive something as neurologically damaging as a malignant tumor. Although he knew very little on the subject, Twilight had made it very clear that it was as serious as it sounded.

TICK TOCK, went the clock, keeping in time with Sombra's flurrying thoughts. He had been sitting in front of the old grandfather clock for some time, watching the hours tick by. His eyes moved in time with the swinging pendulum within the glass case, the lull of the movement putting him into a trance-like state.

"Sombra?" Twilight asked, stepping into the library. He paid her no mind and continued to watch the clock, much to her chagrin. She sighed and shook her head. "I'm heading upstairs to sleep; the girls and I have a busy day ahead of us, come later." Again, he paid her no mind, his eyes still moving in time with the golden disk on a chain.

CUCKOO! CUCKOO! CUCKOO! The loud clucks that signified noon's arrival finally snapped Sombra out of his trance and he shook his head as he returned back to the surface world. He let out a sigh of annoyance and stood up, then began pacing. Twilight quirked a brow upwards, wondering what could have caused his strange behavior.

"Where is she?" he muttered impatiently, his eyes narrowed irritably. Twilight blinked in surprise.

"Where is who?" she asked, completely flabbergasted. Sombra rolled his eyes at her, as if she were stupid for not knowing what was "obvious".

"Don't you pay attention to anything?" he snapped, "Pinkie's supposed to be here for our daily wa-" He stopped talking as his eyes widened, a look of realization taking over his features. He sat back down on the floor as he looked down at his hooves, his face completely frozen in shock.

During Pinkie's absence, prior to her passing, he had never, not once, thought about their afternoon walk. He didn't particular like it, but it was better than staying inside the library all the time with Twilight. What caused the change? Was it because she was gone for good and not temporarily?

That last thought caused him to freeze completely. Since when did he think that Pinkie's absence was temporary? He knew that she wouldn't be able to pull through, didn't he? Did he want it to be temporary?

'No, that's absolutely preposterous!' he thought. He didn't even like her! She was silly, random and overall-

"Sombra?"

His head snapped up as he looked up to see Twilight standing a few feet in front of him, looking bewildered. Her eyes were wide and she held a hoof up to her agape jaw, as if to smother any gasps of shock.

"What are you gawking at?" he snapped, narrowing his eyes in frustration. Twilight pointed a hoof at him, her face still one of shock.

"You're crying," she told him. Sombra gave her an incredulous look, but felt his face anyway and was shocked to find his entire face coated with tears. His eyes widened and he felt more roll down his cheeks, which he quickly wiped away.

"Where in the name of Tartarus...?" he murmured to himself. An image of Pinkie laughing and smiling appeared in his mind, causing more tears to spring to his eyes, for whatever reason.

'I...' he began to realize, 'I miss her.' He turned towards the ticking grandfather clock again, seeing that it a five past noon. 'She's really not coming...' He screwed his eyes shut as more tears fell and he didn't even bother to wipe them away.

"Stupid..." he whispered, "stupid, stupid mare."

Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
and what then shall we play?
Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
now summer's gone away?

Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
and what then shall we see?
Tick Tock, Until the day
that thou shalt marry me.

Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
and all the years they fly.
Tick Tock, And all too soon,
you and I must die.

Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
We laughed at fate and mourned her.
Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
even for the doctor.

Tick Tock, Goes the clock,
he hated and he loved her.
Tick Tock, Goes the clock, '
Til Pinkie's lost by the doctor

Author's Note

...I'm a monster.

No, this does not coincide with my other stories; I just needed a release for some negative feelings, is all...

A few weeks ago in December, my choir and I lost a family member. It was her first year and she had the most potential out of us all. In our first concert, she performed "When I'm Gone". I remember how nervous she was and how I told her that I would learn how to do the cup music and sing with her in the next pop show.

On the night of our Christmas Concert, she was fine. The next day, she didn't show up to school. I figured she had what choir students call a "concert hangover" and thought she stayed home, like other members did. The day after that, I walked into the choir room and something felt off. I saw several girls together, crying. When I asked what happened, I was appalled.

She had a brain tumor and was taken to the hospital the day before and was legally brain dead. They were about to take her off life support and she showed no signs of recovery.

I didn't know her that well, but when I found out that she was gone, I had never been so shocked in my life. I remember how she would help me out when I had trouble with a dance move or I was stuck in a stretching position. Every day, in drill team, I would see her, doing stretches, trying her hardest to get ready for try-outs; now she'll never be able to.

I also remember how she tried to teach me to do the "Cup Song" and how I gave up halfway through. I wish I hadn't. God, how I wish I hadn't.
Our choir teacher, who was usually strict, was in tears when she told us what happened. When a principal came in and asked if any of us wanted to go to the counselor's, half the class stood up and went.

Our choir teacher took her assigned seat and put memorial sign on it, so that way, if we're ever missing her, all we have to do is sit down and know she is with us. The choir will be singing "When I'm Gone" in honor at the next concert.

The reason it makes so sad is because of the lyrics.

When I'm gone
When I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

To me, the song isn't about leaving someone. It's about someone leaving out world and when they're gone, they will be missed. And not in a "Boyfriend/Girlfriend" way; I mean as in someone you loved and someone who touched your life.

She was a wonderful girl and the world was better with her in it. She was like Pinkie Pie; She could make anyone happy with just a smile. I like to believe I'm the Pinkie Pie in my school, but she as more than that.

She was loyal, generous, kind, honest, and she had the greatest laugh. She dressed her best, she was athletic, she was strong, she was beautiful. She was everything a girl could hope to be and more.

When she passed, everyone was upset. Everyone who talked to her, who waved at her, hell, even just smiled at her, was affected by the loss this world endured. She may not have been famous and she may not have been on this world long. But I'll tell you one thing for sure.

She was happy. And that was her only crime.

I can only hope to be remembered the same way she was.

May you rest in peace, Kendra. Smile, smile, smile, even when you're hurting all the while~