“The closer to death you are, the more alive you feel.” - Rush
C H A P T E R 1
The Cakes
Click. Click. Click.
The light click of hooves echoed quietly across the cold stone pavement as I walked along, paying no other ponies around me any attention. As many of the disgusted and sickened glares I received during my walk, not one affected me or my mood. I was just too happy. A happy smile was stretched across my face as the glorious sunlight shone overhead.
I did get the occasional angry glare from somepony on the other side of the street, or a mother who would cover the eyes of her foal as I walked by. At first, the whole issue never bothered me, and frankly, who would be bothered by it? One question always stuck out in my mind, though.
What are you?
The first time, and unfortunately not the last, this question would be asked of me. Although the question does run in my thoughts on a day to day basis, rarely do I find myself pondering it. I skipped happily through the streets of Ponyville, the warmth of sunshine making my fur coat stand on end.
I’m not the usual kind of pony, if that’s what you’re thinking. In fact, I bet you that “normal” is the last word to ever crossed the mind of anypony who ever looked at me. I never cared for what others thought of me, however. Why should I?
If you must know what I am, I’m what some call a “bat pony”. Now, for those of you who don’t know what those are, basically I look like a pegasus with bat-like features. Weird, boney wings, and the strange eyes that remind you of Nightmare Moon in a way. I also have fangs, but I rarely show them to anypony, due to the possible reactions I might get if I do.
I didn’t make very many friends when I had first arrived here. In fact, I recall that no one would even walk on the same side of the street as me for weeks. It didn’t worry me much, because I was never the kind of pony that wanted to make friends. It did get kind of lonely, being the only one of my kind here, on top of the fact that not one pony would traverse anywhere near you within 500 feet.
All of that eventually changed a few years ago, when I met my first and best of friends, Twilight Sparkle. She is quite the nice mare, to tell you the truth. I never thought I could meet another mare that was as nice as she was. I am glad, to this day even, that she has remained my friend since the day we first met.
When we did first meet, I could sense that she was a little scared of me, so when she approached me for the first time, I was the first to speak. She cringed for a few seconds, but she eventually gave in, and we spent the rest of the day talking about different things and having fun around town. I was even able to meet her other friends, as well!
If I can recall correctly, their names were Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. I remember that Rarity and Rainbow Dash were the most skeptical of the group, and that Rarity even fainted when she got first sight of me! Everypony was laughing for a while after she woke up, myself included!
Pinkie Pie was the most kind to me. When Twilight first mentioned me to her friends, I was scared, of course, because not only had we just become friends, now that same friend was trying to introduce me to five more ponies! Pinkie Pie was most enthusiastic to meet me, and was also the most happy to meet me, too.
She was jumping around everywhere, and wouldn’t settle down for two seconds! When she talked, she would speak so fast you couldn’t understand a single thing she said! She and I seem to get along the best, and we even love to host parties together! I think that the last one we hosted was the party for Rainbow Dash’s birthday. I think Pinkie kept calling it a “birth-a-versary”, though.
I’ve been many places other than just Ponyville, though. I recall even going to Canterlot, home of the alicorn sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! I was so excited to meet them! When I first arrived through those gates, my heart skipped a beat. The place was huge! And the sisters themselves were so nice! I think that they were as excited to meet me as I was them!
I’ve been to Canterlot seven times since then. I have also occasionally visited Manehatten and the Crystal Empire. Only the ponies who knew I was coming seemed to be happy to meet me. Everypony else was either glaring, or trying to avoid me.
Introductions aside, I entered Sugarcube Corner with a bright smile on my face. Several ponies were already inside. As the clang of the bell rang in the air, everypony looked to me. And most of those ponies weren’t happy, I could tell. The only pony who greeted me with a smile on their face was Pinkie Pie.
“Hey, Sketch! I’m over here!” She yelled in her typical high-pitched voice, waving me over to where she stood.
I walked to the back of the store, and stood next to her behind the counter. A few ponies had continued to stare on as we stood next to each other. “Hello, Pinkie Pie.” I said, looking to her. She stared back at the other ponies in the store.
“Hey! What’re you all staring at!? You all act like you haven’t seen a bat pony before!” She yelled. As everyone continued to stare at us, I blushed, trying to peek below the counter. I looked to Pinkie, the blush still on my face. She looked at me as well, giggling. “Um, Sketch? You uh...you’re…”
I shook my head, the trance leaving me. The warmth that had developed in my cheeks disappeared as I stared at the pink mare. “Oh, yeah. Sorry.” I rubbed the back of my head, and chuckled. We stared at each other for a few seconds.
“So, why are you a bat...pony, uh...thing again?” She asked.
I shook my head and laughed, giving myself the quickest of possible facehoofs. “Pinkie, we’ve discussed this before. I was born this way.” I said, looking at her with a slight expression of annoyance.
“Oh, yeah!”
I heard the bell on the counter ring a couple of times, and looked to see a stallion standing there, waiting for Pinkie to cease her babble. I stared at him for a few more seconds, before looking back to Pinkie.
“Pinkie.”
“But I just don’t get it. How can a pony be born a bat pony? I mean it just doesn’t make an…” She continued, her attention out in space as she pondered things left and right, as per the usual Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie.” I said more sternly.
“I mean, the only bat pony I’ve met is Flutterbat, and she was born because of a misfire with Twilight’s spell, and…”
“Pinkie!” I yelled quickly.
“Well, that is, other than you. I’ve met you obviously, heh heh.” She giggled.
“PINKIE!!!”
She finally quit her babble, and looked up at me, confused. I twitched my head to the left, pointing one of my ears to the awaiting stallion in front of the counter. She only gave a ‘huh?’ in reply, and I repeated the action, which only resulted in the same response.
“You have a customer.” I finally said.
“Oh, sorry. I’m such a silly filly!” She said, giggling as usual. She put her hooves on the counter as she looked to the waiting stallion. “Yes? May I help you?”
“Yes…” He began, regretfully. “I came here to pick up a couple of cakes I ordered, please.” He said, all the while staring me down, checking me out. I didn’t think much of it, since most ponies did that when they saw me. Of course, that was only when I was working.
“Ooh! What flavors!?” Pinkie responded. I looked at her, confused. Now, usually, we did get the occasional stallion or mare that would come in asking for a cake or two to go. What was strange, was that by this time, Pinkie should have known what kind of cake that the stallion wanted. Most ordered only a vanilla or chocolate cake. Rarely did I see somepony order a strawberry.
“Uh, I think I recall coming in to ask about it a week ago. I’m here to pick them up.” He said, his face full of confusion. I could read him like an open book.
He had ordered a vanilla ice cream cake with strawberry frosting, and a chocolate filled and frosted cake with either vanilla or glaze drizzle. It was easy, since I was in the back room that day. I remember it as if it were yesterday…
Ding!
“Oh, a customer!” Pinkie yelled excitedly. It made sense, though. Business today had been quite slow, so seeing the first customer since opening this morning was like water on a dry, windy day. I sat in the back room, cleaning a few boxes and supplies up.
“Hi, Pinkie. I would like to place an order.”
“Ooh! Whataya want?” She screamed rather loudly. I tried my hardest to refrain from putting my hooves over my ears.
“Uh, Vanilla for the first. Ice cream filled, with strawberry frosting. The second is to be full chocolate, with some kind of vanilla or glaze drizzle. Either is fine.” He said, his left hoof moving in sync with his voice.
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie responded, writing everything down. What I hadn’t realized was that she was really drawing random pictures on a used napkin. It took me a while to put two and two together, but I eventually figured why she couldn’t remember.
I laughed as I walked out of the back room, but stopped when I saw the stallion’s face. He held an appalled expression, and quickly as possible, ran right out of the store yelling “Thank you Pinkie! I’ll be back in a week to pick the cakes up!”
“I don’t remember you ordering anything! And I remember everything!”
I snapped back to reality, and looked to Pinkie, who had a confused look upon her face. We stood staring at each other for what felt like hours, until I finally decided to break the silence. “He came in a week ago, and placed the order. You don’t remember because the whole time you were drawing on a used napkin.”
“Oh! I remember that!” She yelled, remembering back to that day. “I was drawing a picture of the stallion. I finished it just as he left, heh heh.”
I gave myself a faceful of hoof, and groaned. “Pinkie!” She looked over at me as I continued criticizing her. “I think you should go and make the cakes!” I yelled.
“Wait, you mean to tell me that she hasn’t even made them yet!?” the Stallion yelled.
“Pretty much.” I responded, shrugging my shoulders at him.
“Wow! You guys have horrid service! I’m never coming here again!” He yelled, throwing his hooves left and right as he spoke. I ignored him, and went in the back to assist Pinkie.
<<<>>>
I entered the back kitchen to see a frantic Pinkie Pie trying to make two cakes as fast as was physically possible. If it ever was possible, that is. I watched her as she ran back and forth from the cabinets to the counters to the tables to a pile of bowls.
“Pinkie.” I said, my tone a little louder than normal.
“Oh, how could I forget an order!? I’ve never forgotten an order.” She kept mumbling to herself as poorly made cake batter stuck to her face and hooves. “Just gotta put this in here, and throw that in there.”
“Pinkie!” I said more sternly.
“Ugh, did he ask for a chocolate cake or vanilla cake?”
“PINKIE PIE!” I yelled, stomping my hoof on the ground. She ceased all activity just as a ding could be heard from the oven. She stood up, shaking, and looked over at me.
“Oh, good! I need help with this!” She yelled, grabbing me by the hoof and dragging me over to the oven. “I need you to place these cakes in the oven while I make the frosting!” She finished, handing me two filled cake pans.
“Pinkie! Stop!” I yelled, throwing the unbaked cakes on the ground in front of me. Pinkie finally stopped, and took the time to listen to me. I put a hoof on her shoulder. “Why don’t you come back out, and ask the stallion what he wanted so that you know what to make? That’ll make it easier, so you know what you’re making, and instead of worrying about what he needed, you know what he wants.”
Pinkie took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled out. “Oh, okay. I’m calm now.” She followed me outside to the counter, and the stallion was still there, just as I had thought.
“Sorry about that.” I stated, looking to the stallion. “Now, what did you order, again?”
The stallion sighed, a wisp of breath reaching my face. “I had ordered a vanilla ice cream cake with strawberry frosting, and a full chocolate cake with either vanilla or glaze drizzle. Now, when will the order be ready?”
“In a few hours, sir. Can I get your name, while Pinkie starts the oven?” I asked, holding up a pencil and pad of paper gleefully. I looked to Pinkie, signalling that it was her turn to go and start making the cakes.
“Oh! Right!”
I looked back to the stallion, and waited for his answer. “I’m Starburst. Now, when will the cakes be ready?”
I paused, writing down Starburst’s order and name before I looked back up. “I said that you should give it an hour or two. Each cake takes about an hour to bake on top of the fifteen or so minutes that it takes to prepare them.”
“And you know this much about baking, how?” He asked, cocking his head to the side.
“Oh, Pinkie taught me after I moved with her.” I replied happily. I put the pad and pencil down as we continued talking. In the back I could hear Pinkie working frantically while singing to herself. Starburst and I talked for about another hour and a half before I entered the back room, and helped Pinkie begin to bake the second cake.
“So, how’s the other cake coming along?” I asked.
“Well, I’ve got the batter made for the second cake. I’m waiting on the first cake to finish baking, and I’ve got the frosting prepared for when it is done. Other than that, I think these cakes are just about done!” She said with a smile.
“Well, good.” I said warmly, looking at her. A moment of silence grew between us before I broke it again. “I’m glad that we’re friends, Pinkie Pie. You’re the greatest. I don’t think I could ask for anypony better.”
“I’m glad, too, Sketch. I’m actually surprised, though.” I looked to her with worry as I continued making frosting. “I never thought that I could become friends with a pony like you.”
I sighed, a million thoughts running through my head. “Well, I’m glad. When I first came to Ponyville, not one pony would be nice to me. They all walked on the opposite side of the street, and I could never go to a store without having food thrown at me. If it hadn’t been for you and your friends, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
All thought process stopped as a warm feeling overcame me. I could feel the sweet caress of Pinkie’s hooves around my neck, along with the trickle of tears that fell down my neck and back. I returned the embrace gladly as Pinkie spoke to me in a gentle voice. “You’re not just my friend, Sketch.” She released the embrace and looked at me. “You’re like a brother to me. Remember that.”
I nodded to her as I wiped a few tears away. “I will.”
“Now, we’ve got a couple of cakes to finish.”
<<<>>>
I don’t remember much of what happened after that little heartwarming moment between me and Pinkie. Anything that had happened left evidence via cake batter and frosting being splattered all over the kitchens, along with a small clutter of pots and pans here and there. Lucky for us, we had finished the cakes for Starburst, and they were ready to go.
I grabbed the two cakes in my hooves and walked out of the kitchen to where Starburst had remained. I was surprised to still find him there. “Alright, Starburst. Sorry it took so long. We finished your cakes, though.” I said, laying them upon the counter.
“I don’t mind, as long as they were finished.” He said, happily. I assumed he heard some of what had gone on in the kitchen between me and Pinkie, if not more.
“Well, thanks. What were these for anyway?” I asked curiously. I continued putting cardboard covers over them, making sure that the ribbons that held the two halves of the boxes together were tight.
“Oh, my sister is getting married, and my daughter is having her Cute-cinera this weekend.” He said, grasping the boxes in his hooves. “Thanks, uh…”
“Sketch.” I said finally. “My name is Sketch.”
“Sketch.” Starburst replied. He placed a hoof-full of bits on the counter and walked out, a smile chiseled on his face.
When he was out of Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie walked out and grabbed the bits off the counter. “I think that we’ll be seeing him again, soon.”
“What?” I asked, staring at her with a look of confusion.
“Oh, uh...I meant that he looked like a nice stallion. I hope we’ll see him again.” She replied, holding in a fake smile.
“Right.” I said sarcastically, turning my head to the counter. “Anyway, it’s late.” I pointed to the door, which had moonlight shining through it. “I think we should clean up and clock out.”
“Don’t worry about it, dear.” I turned to see Mrs. Cake standing behind me. “Mr. Cake and I will take care of everything. You two run along home now. You’ve done plenty today.” She concluded, a smile plastered on her face.
“Thanks, Mrs. Cake.” I said, waving goodbye. “C’mon Pinkie, let’s go.” She said ‘Thank you’ to both the Cake’s, and we exited the store, the shine of the sunset brightly lit behind us.
“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing will always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.” - Plato
C H A P T E R 2
Home
“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing will always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.” - Plato
C H A P T E R 2
Home
The night had been long and boring. It had also been a lot more quiet since that stallion had left. Soon the store closed, and Pinkie and I began to walk back to her house. Pinkie lived on the outskirts of Ponyville, so we had a little ways to walk before we got home. Not that I minded, though. My favorite spot in all of Equestria was by her side.
Several times I would look between her happy expression and the ground, smiling. I honestly don’t think that I’ve ever met a pony who had ever make me this happy in my whole life, and only be happy back. Occasionally we would exchanged happy glances to each other, most of our walk back being spent in silence.
The quiet would probably bother most other ponies, but I actually liked it like this. In fact, I think I even prefer it to be this way. Even though I have a good relationship with Twilight and her friends, I often find myself needing the time to relax, and think to myself. It helps me to unwind, and to have a quick think-over of my life, and everything that has happened up to this point in time.
I can’t remember a time when I was any happier than this. The only moment in my life that could come any close to this would be the few minutes I had with my mother, right before she succummbed to cancer. The news came suddenly, hitting me almost like a runaway train. The fact that the doctor in the room that day was the one to tell me did little to suppress the guilt and sadness I felt inside.
I snapped from my trance when I felt a soft hoof on my shoulder. Looking to my side, I saw Pinkie, who had only a mixed look of sadness and empathy. Plastered to her face was a smile that only further expressed her sadness. Quickly I wiped away tears from my muzzle and eyes, before smiling at her. I lightly grasped her hoof with my own, a warm tear sliding down my face.
For a moment I didn’t speak to her, and neither did she speak back. Rather, we let the calm and quiet of night envelope around us, sheltering us in its cold embrace. My smile dissolved away as I looked to the ground, the same guilt from the night of her death overtaking every inch of my being. I kept my gaze away for a few seconds before looking back to Pinkie.
“I’m sorry, Pinkie.” I forced back tears, but a few managed to escape, and began cascading down my face. “It’s been so long since she died, but the memory of that night badly haunts me. Her memory haunts me. I can’t stand it. I feel like I should be in her place instead, almost like her death was my fault-”
Pinkie stopped me, caressing my lower muzzle with her hoof. “Yeah, I know. Don’t get down because of it. It wasn’t your fault, remember that.”
“I know,” I responded, the mental dam in my head barely able to hold back the flood of tears. “It. It’s just that I feel so responsible for it. I feel like there was something I could do to help her sickness. I feel more and more guilt and sadness each and every day. I just wish-”
I sniffled, and nodded. “Alright. Thanks for that, Pinkie. I really needed it.”
“No problem, Sketch.” she said, smiling. “You’re my friend, and that’s what friends do. Help each other out when they need it most.”
We exchanged bittersweet nods, before we continued walking. The rest of our trip was spent in silence, except for the occasional interval in which the wind would pick up, breaking up the quiet. Even though it’s only been a few months since I first met Pinkie, it seems that it’s always her that I go to when I have an emotional issue needing some sorting out.
We soon arrived back at Pinkie’s house. The exterior was decorated in the typical fashion that anypony would expect a party-crazed equine like her would. Streamers, glitter, the brightest possible colors. All of it seems overwhelming at first, but it is something I have grown used to since I moved in with Pinkie.
There was a raised porch which lead to the front door, and the house itself was a simple two-story building. I know that I’ve lived in the house for quite some time now, but it never ceases to amaze me. Each time I arrive at the house, I have the tendency to stare for a while, examining every inch of the property.
“Sketch!” I snapped my head towards Pinkie, who stood on the last step of the porch. She was waving a hoof to me, motioning for me to follow her inside. “Why do you keep doing that every time we get here?”
I blushed at her comment, and quickly followed her inside. The interior wasn’t nearly as decorated as the outside of the house, but I could understand what position Pinkie was coming from. She is a party pony, of course. It only makes sense that her house doesn’t have much interior. That usually leaves her with little money, enough to pay the property bills if she’s lucky.
That’s why she and I work at Sugarcube Corner. Have been for some time, now. It’s the only way that either of us could scrounge up the bits needed to help out with food and bills. I only work because it’s only fair. I never liked being that guy who moves into an apartment or home and does little-to-no work around the house.
My train of thought ceased when I heard the creak of the door closing. Looking behind me, I saw Pinkie at the door. Right after taking care of the door, she walked over to me, and smiled. “Well, I guess we’ve got another night in this old place all to ourselves.”
I took a quick peek around at the dusty old house. “Yeah, seems so.” I said, gazing around. I stopped when Maud’s face came into my view directly in front of me, and immediately had taken back what I had said. “Nevermind.”
“Oh, hey Maud!” Pinkie yelled happily.
I stared for a few seconds before making any comment. “H-hi, Maud?” I said meekly. I began to back up just slightly as a drip of sweat formed on my brow. “How are you doing?”
No response, as usual. Pinkie jumped in front of me with her typical overjoyed expression. “Hey, sis! I thought that you were supposed to be in Manehatten for another week and a half! What’re you doing here?”
She stared for a few seconds, and we both stared back in awkward silence. She slowly held up a small pebble in her hoof. “Boulder was homesick.” She said plainly, before walking away.
We stared off into the empty space once occupied by Pinkie’s sister, before turning our heads to each other. “Well, that was strange.” I said.
“Yeah, normally she comes home early for different reasons. Like maybe Boulder forgot to grab something or she forgot Boulder’s blanket.”
“Well, I think we should go and get ready to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow.” I finally said, staring at Pinkie.
“Alright, you wanna go shower first, or should I?”
“I think you should shower first. I’ll get some stuff done down here.”
“Okay!” She said, hopping away to the upstairs bathroom.
I chuckled to myself a bit, and turned to the living room. The living room wasn’t too much of a mess, but it was something I should consider cleaning. I began to pick up sheets and couch cushions just as I heard the shower turn on. I could faintly hear Pinkie humming, which made me laugh just a bit. As I continued to clean, the mess quickly lessened. I was just about finished when a knock at the door stopped me.
I stood up and stared at the front door. Only quiet came from it now, but I still felt like something was behind the giant piece of wood. A breeze blew by, making me shiver. I started to walk over to the door, cautiously as was possible. When I reached the door, another knock made me nearly jump from my coat!
“Hey! Sketch could you see who that is!?” I heard Pinkie yell.
Right after calling to me, she went back to washing and humming. I nodded in reply, and looked back at the door. I reached a hoof out slowly, and when it found its way around the knob, I quickly turned it and opened the door. But nopony was there.
I checked around the yard, making sure that nopony was lingering around. I hoped that there wasn’t a prankster nearby, waiting to unleash whatever horror they had prepared to thrash at me. Sighing to myself, I closed the door a few minutes later. I turned, only to be surprised by Pinkie, again!
“AHH!!!”
“AHH!!!” She yelled.
I stared for a few seconds. “Why did you scare me like that!?” I yelled rather loudly.
“Sorry, I was just wondering who it was.” She paused. “So who was it?”
I sighed once more. “Hm. Nopony was at the door. Might be the neighborhood pranksters again.” I gave myself a facehoof. Honestly, I don't even know how many I give myself in one day, let alone in my entire life. More stupid stuff happens in Ponyville than most think.
“Anyway…” I watched Pinkie roll her eyes. “The shower’s open, so you can use it now.”
“Thanks, Pinkie.” I responded bleakly. I walked upstairs to go and shower, consistently checking behind me to make sure that nopony was ready to jump out at me and attack.
