Heeding the Call

Heeding the Call

Chapter 1: Receiving the Call

Edit: Read author's note If you've read before chapter update

I just received a letter requesting for me to come home. Gummy had burped it up when I returned from a party I threw for Big Mac's birthday. I came in all cheerful from another hard days worth of work. Bringing joy was my duty. And I am proud to say that I enjoyed it greatly.

I held the letter in my hooves sitting on my bed my hair falling in front of my eyes as I read. If it was a letter from my parents it would be fine. I would love to see my sisters again. To see my mother and father again. Bless their souls for they know not what they raised.

No, it was not a letter from my parents but from the Mother. She did not need to give a reason. I was called upon and I must answer. But time is meaningless for her, and she has graciously given me a week to ready myself. A week to make arrangements. A week to say my goodbyes.

I continued to sit on my bed. I clutched Gummy tightly holding him as close as I could. He has always been there for me. Always ready to listen to my random spouts of party ideas and tales of joy brought to the ponies. The Mother had given me him when I was working on the farm. My parents had thought it was an alligator, despite my insistence that it was a dragon. They simply thought it was my youthful imagination and left it alone. I later learned it was much easier to explain a pet alligator than a pet dragon.

I held him close to me contemplating what I should do. As a Daughter of the All Mother I must heed Her call. There is no doubt about it. It is rather unfortunate that I had to become important to this place. The point of my arrival was to spread Happiness to the ponies. To bring joy, and laughter.

There is the kicker. I was meant to spread joy, but never to become important. I had done my job too well and became the Element of Laughter. A nice title but not one that was meant for a being like me. Without me or anyone of the other elements they become useless trinkets until new bearers are found. This does not only affect me, but the whole of Equestria.

It was the next morning when Mr. Cake came up to my room and knocked. I had been here in my bed with a sad but thoughtful look with my hair draping over me. I didn't need rest but fell asleep at some point. I hadn't noticed him walking into the room until he was right beside my bed with a very worried face.

"Good morning, Pinkie. is everything alright?" He asked as I lifted my head. He was greeted with my tear stained face."Here let me help you out of bed. Can you tell me what's wrong?" He spoke as if I was a child. Understandable considering my usual antics. He assisted in untangling myself from my hair and Gummy. When I was righted I shrugged off his helping hoof.

"Excuse me for a moment" I droned as I walked to my bathroom. "I'm going to clean myself up and go to Twilight's. I'll be back in a few hours." My voice was barely above a whisper.

As I turned away I saw Mr Cake was confused. Before I could say anything he sighed in defeat. "Alright, dinner is at 8." he turned to my door and walked out shaking his head and muttering "mares" as he left.

I walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. I was darker than my usual shade of pink. A typical reaction to my saddened mood. My fur was matted where my tears had streamed and needed some care. I was able to clean myself up and was careful not to make it worse.

The end result was a relatively normal looking Pinkie with a darker coloration. I sighed at the mirror. The last time I had this dark of fur was when I thought my friends didn't like me anymore. My entire duty to this world felt shattered and useless. I was so glad it was just my over reaction to the situation.

This time it is worse. There is no chance of it being a mistake. I am called for and will be leaving in one week...

I forced my train of thought to stop before I would have to clean myself up again. I composed myself and patted Gummy who just stared into space as I left my room.

Upon my arrival at the bottom of the stairs I heard a small gasp to my right. I turned my head to see Mr. Cake speaking to Mrs. Cake who was facing me.

"Good evening Mrs. Cake. I'm going to be with my friend for a few hours. I should be back before dinner." She continued to stare with her hoof to her mouth as I walked out the door.

I tried walking the main way but there were too many ponies walking about. I knew them all and hated them seeing me like this. After a couple of blocks I turned down an alleyway that would be a longer route but still get me to Twilight's library.

As I walked the back alleyway I thought about what I could do. I had really two options. Three technically, but I don't think eating ice cream to wash away the tears will help much.

Door number one. I say my goodbyes and leave. Just out of the blue. Rip it off like a bandage. My friends would question my betrayal and feel hurt. They would come looking for me. Knowing them they would stop at nothing to find me. Even if it killed them.

I can not let them do that, nor could I stop them as I would be gone. The end result is definitely not ideal.

Door number two. I tell them everything. I explain that I can no longer be here with them and must heed The Mothers call. It would give them what they would seek otherwise before they could endanger themselves. I will have to make them promise never to tell anyone, but I know they would never tell a soul.

In the end door number two has the least problems. When I had finished my thoughts I looked around and noticed I had taken a wrong turn somewhere. I sighed as I realized I had no idea where I was. Looking around I noticed a door back a little from where I stopped. Turning around, I trotted towards it.

After looking up and down the alleyway to check and see that the coast is clear, I turned to the door and opened it. Inside was a swirling black and blue void. I stepped through and kept walking. After a quick bright flash I found myself in a bush. The warp tunnel was not always accurate as it has to find an exit no one is looking at. I jumped out of the bush and looked around.

Lucky for me it was one of the hedges surrounding the library. I walked from behind the large tree and passed the Golden Oaks Library sign. I stood at the stoop for a moment longer before sighing and finally knocking on the door.