Bittersweet Trails

It was a simple sight. One that made me so reluctant, that I just wanted to turn and run. Run away from what lay ahead, from my feelings, from everything.

It was the door to Sugarcube Corner.

It would be just so easy to tuck tail, and bolt. Because I believe that if I go in there, I'll only make things worse for both of us. I'll blow up our relationship twice over, potentially severing our friendship as well.

It only takes a quick glance sidelong to regain my courage, however. I knew why I was there, and I intended full well to go in. The door reads 'closed', but considering Pinkie, she's likely in there. A knock would do justice. I raise my hoof, take a deep breath, and prepare to knock.

Then I hear it. It's just the tiniest, most inaudible sound that could catch my ear.

It is, unmistakably, the gentle weeping of Pinkie Pie.

I freeze, all of the bravado leaving my body from a single sound. My heart flutters, and my hoof drops back down to the ground despairingly. There could be no way in Hay now that I could do it. I'd made her like this. Was I stupid enough to believe she'd take me back?

On an impulse, I slowly approach the door instead, gazing through the tiny heart-shaped peephole that was inset within the wood. It's minuscule indeed, and the Doppler Effect leads me to believe that what I heard could have simply been the distorted sound of a different pony's crying instead.

But no. From what I can see, Pinkie's head is slouched over the counter which so often separates customer from baker. I'm unable to discern any part of her face, as she's facing downwards, muzzle pressed into the glass through both weights of gravity and despair. The gentle shaking of her entire body is hardly noticeable, but coupled with the occasional sniffle or whimper, I know it's not a phantom image.

I don't think. I hardly even realize that I suddenly burst through the door to the bakery, until I'm already in. Already, my mouth is shaping words before I can back them up, though only one actually comes out. "Pinkie!"

Her head snaps up, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. In the brief millisecond that they meet, I can see so many emotions, I'd swear I stumbled into a veritable mixing pot. Hate, hurt, questioning, fear, anxiety, disparity.

All of those stared at me in the most ugly manner possible, before she suddenly turned her back to me, as speechless as I found myself.

"No."

I was confused, until I realized that her Pinkie sense must have told her why I was there. I silently cursed that sense that had more than once saved quite a few ponies from flowerpots, before gathering what little courage I could muster to continue. "Pinkie, I...just want to talk. About us."

That certainly got her going, though not exactly as I might have liked. "OK!" she said, turning around and nearly instantly assuming an obviously fake smile. "You're a pony who likes to yell a lot, who likes to hurt my feelings, and I'm a pony who wants you to go away!" I stared, dumbfounded, as the plastic grin on her face remained. "Is that good enough, Twily?"

"I'm-"

"Oh, my mistake!" Her voice remained no less 'cheerful', but the little creaks and wavers of a pony recently-and still-upset still assaulted my ears. "I guess I should be more perfect for ya', right?"

Any hope that I had to repair things between us more or less vanished after that sentence. And to make things worse, she continued, going so far as to step out from behind the counter to get in my face. "I knew my sister was right all along, that no matter how much I trusted a pony, they would always tear my heart into itty bitty pieces! You only prove that!"

Woah, woah, woah, wait. Was that what this was about? Trust? The very foundation of which I built our relationship upon? Did the incident even matter? Was it just one big, elaborately composed test between her and her sister? Was that what the sheet of paper was those few nights ago?

By Celestia, if that's so...she's clever.

"Pinkie, I'm sorry, really!" The courage that suddenly drove me on was invisible, perhaps brought on by but a simple moment of pondering. "I was a jerk, and I promise not to be one again. I've learned!"

"Prove it."

My gaze dropped, and I shifted back slightly, even at the opportunity which so broadly presented itself to me. Could I really do this? Could I really pull her out of her heartbreak with the pieces of paper that I still levitated discretely behind my back?

I shied back, but at the same time bringing the papers into her reach. With the strongest voice I could manage, which came more as a soft whisper, and the least embarrasment I could muster, which ended up setting my face ablaze, I gave my explanation as she took the papers:

"Th-...they're 'love coupons'..."

The silence that followed only gave me an opportunity to start a staring-death-match with the floor, the air only punctuated by the slight shuffling of the coupons. And honestly, who thought they would work? They were so...cheesy, in retrospect.

"Huh?"

The sudden question made me glance up towards Pinkie, who stared back in utter confusion. I sighed, moving to her side to examine them, so far as to explain. And then, through the most uncontrollable force, I managed a giggle, before I explained to her:

"Pinkie, they're...upside down."

"Oh, I knew that." Pinkie quickly flipped the parchments around, before reading over one with a speed I could only hope to attain.

After the longest 10 seconds of my life, she looked up from the coupon, and I could see her gaze soften. It was a tiny thing, just the smallest drawing of the eyebrows, and the tiniest regretful frown, but I still saw it.

"Good for one 'special' activity with your 'special somepony', any time, anywhere...expires only when I stop loving you...or in other words...never..." Her voice was tinged with the sweetest kind of tenderness that I'd ever heard as she slowly glanced back to it, and then back to me. "T-...Twily..."

I couldn't have stopped the sheepish grin that spread my cheeks wide if I tried. The warm, glowing sense of relief, and...pure affection for the mare who stood in front of me, her lips trembling ever so slightly...were no exception.

The second that we held gazes turned into more, which seemed to be hours in my view. It was a rarity to have her be this silent, and yet...I almost wanted her to be talking.

Finally, Pinkie decided to close the gap. I found myself nearly bowled over by an energetic tackle hug, and...crying? "Twilight, I'm so, so, so sorry! I didn't mean to be all rude, I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't mean to do some things so bad in the first place, and I'm sorry! I'm sorry, sorry, sorry!"

Her? Sorry? What had she done? Had I not been the pony who'd gone off my rocker over a simple mistake? My apology sounded foreign to my own ears,despite being earnest to the fullest. "Pinkie, I'm sorry too. I should have reacted less...stupidly, and I hope you can forgive me."

"Silly Twilight!" Pinkie pulled back, smiling at me with an expression that was still adorned with the most pure tears of apology that could be mustered. "I'd never hold anything against a pony who can be as cute and adorable as you are now!"

I made no response to this heart-warming compliment, but to reach out a hoof and gently wipe the tears from her now cheerful expression.

I've found myself staring into Pinkie Pie's eyes more than once. Those bright, glimmering cyan globules of happiness could captivate my attention from mere milliseconds, to glorious seconds. But the perceived eternity that passed sent my mind into a corkscrew, passing all direct control to my heart. And even it nearly short-circuited as Pinkie gently nuzzled into the crook of my neck, pressing up in the most...

...OK, even I can't find another word for it, cute fashion possible, and I could have sworn I heard her purr.

I was content to simply stand there forever, but forever is a pretty long time, and she knew that too.

With a smile, she stepped back, grabbing one of the papers that had, in fact, worked quite a bit. She waggled both her eyebrows and the coupon in perfect sync, and asked: "Can I use this now?"

I shrugged. "I don't see why no-"

There are many, many ways to effectively silence a pony in the middle of their sentence. Shoving a hoof in front of their mouth, stuffing their cheeks with food, clamping their muzzle shut, slapping them with a book, zipping their mouths shut with magic, even though a simple 'be quiet' might work.

But I have to admit...of any of the ways Pinkie might have interrupted me...

...none were quite as nice as that one, all consuming, heart-lifting, soul-stoking, love-filled, tender, sugar-scented, and loving kiss.

What? Oh, all right. I suppose I'm gushing just a little bit. But hey, if there's another, better way to end an apology, I'd love to hear it.

But I think I'd stick with this one, anyways.

The night sky has always fascinated me, no matter how much I found out about it. The infinitesimal amount of stars, the limitless planets and nebulae wherein, and the blackness that encompasses our tiny speck of a world.

I have to admit, I often felt lonely thinking about such matters.

It was a clear night tonight, with hardly a cloud in the sky to obscure the beautiful constellations of above. Rainbow Dash did her job exceptionally well today, which seems to be the result of luck smiling upon me, as well as one certain apology was. My trusty telescope's ready as ever, with only a slight malfunction to the focus knob. I twist it slightly forward, peering through the eyepiece. Perfect. I can see the Orion Nebula clearer than day.

The crickets chirping around me add a natural orchestra to what would normally be a perfect silence. Somehow, it seems better than an eerie lack of sound. But all together, it's a very peaceful scene. Silence, or not.

A slight adjustment of about 3.9 degrees west brings me just about centered on the moon. A thing of beauty, and illuminator of the night. Some ponies even say that a full moon is one of the main elements of romance, because the 'full' moon is remnant of 2 halves coming together to form a whole.

Likely story, but it hardly seems to contain any relevance to my observation of the sky.

"Hey, Twilight! Whatcha' lookin' at?"

...then again..."Not much, Pinkie," I reply. I don't even have to turn my head, because I knew she was right behind me. "Just looking at the entire universe."

"Woah, cool!" I felt her hoof on my shoulder, as a long silence followed. I turned to see her gazing at the sky, a frown of concentration on her face as she did so. Eventually, she glanced back down. "I don't get it."

I stifled a giggle, pointing her towards the telescope. "It sort of helps if you can actually see what you're looking at up close..."

"Ohhhh!" Without another second's hesitation, Pinkie bounced over to the telescope, moving it-rather erratically, I might add-around the night sky.

I chuckled, shaking my head. Obviously, she'd never been stargazing before. I turned my head, whistling a slight tune as I waited for her to realize that she wasn't going to get anywhere by nearly swiveling the thing to death.

"Hey, Twily!" I smiled. That was faster than I thought possible, by a lot. I turned, only to find a giant eye staring me in the face.

On reflex, I jumped back, letting a shriek leave my mouth before I could stop it. Sure enough, the sound of Pinkie's laughter followed. "You're funny, Twily! But am I doing it right?"

I managed to brush my indignation away, and quickly thought over how to explain such a concept to such a pony as Pinkie Pie. "Well, first...you have to at least point the telescope at your desired target, right? I'm hardly a star, Pinkie."

The eye disappeared from the lens, and Pinkie appeared to the side of it, her expression completely deadpan as she spoke. "But...you're my star..."

I found myself caught completely unaware, a possible forest fire developing on the insides of my cheeks. Pinkie only stared on, as innocent as any pony could be at such a moment. She...she was serious.

"I,uh...." Let colts be colts, and fillies be fillies, right? "Well, you don't need a telescope to see...'your star', right?"

"That's right! So I don't need one for the others, right?"

"Well..."

"Cool!" Completely hurdling what would have been my response, Pinkie flopped onto her back, her gaze already settled on the sky in peaceful bliss.

I shrugged. It looked fun, anyways.

Shortly after joining her, the silence set in once more. Peaceful, soothing-

"Twilight?" Well, for a little bit anyways. "Have you noticed anything about me lately?"

Other than the facts that she's extremely emotionally prone, seems to be more reluctant about everything, and has thrown parties at one tenth of the rate that she normally does? "Not really."

"Oh." A silence followed, punctuated only by the crickets' rhythmic chirping, once more giving me the impression that I was alone. Of course, having a talkative pink pony right next to you is never quiet for too long.

"It's just that, I...I feel...different." It took all of my self-restraint not to hurriedly bring a hoof to my mouth, and gasp, 'shocker!'. Something told me it was best to stay silent as Pinkie continued.

"I...the party in me is less fun than it used to be. I could throw a party no problem, and probably with a click of the hooves. But, ever since I've been with you...I...it's not as fun anymore. Is there something...wrong with me?"

The words "Pinkie", and "something wrong with"...well, I couldn't even begin to explain the irony. But explaining the irony would not be a wise thing to do at that moment, because she sounded like she was in one of 'those' moods again.

I shifted uncomfortably from my place on the floor, propping myself up against the nearby balcony railing. "Well, Pinkie, we all have to grow up in three stages. Physically, like...height-wise and things like that...mentally, or in essentiality, your maturity level, and emotionally."

"So, you mean...I still haven't grown up?"

Ouch. That was the wrong thing to say entirely. Wrong, wrong, wrong. "No, no, no!" I hurried to assure her. "I...well, can you see that star? The big, bluish one?" I said, pointing to the aforementioned twinkle in the sky.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well, each star has a lifespan. As it grows, exhausting its lifespan, it changes color and expands, changing its appearance and effects on the planetary system around it." A confused glance from Pinkie told me I needed to go further.

"It's kind of like you. You're going to change, and so will your effects on others. But you'll still be Pinkie, right?"

"Yep!"

I was, quite frankly, glad to have shaken that 'mood' from her. Pinkie was a strange pony, mostly talkative...but when she got philosophical...oh Celestia.

And yet, I found myself continuing. "And do you see that star? The one just a bit to the left of the moon?"

"Eeeeeeeeee-yep!"

"It reminds me of you, too." I smiled, scooting closer to her until we both nearly shared viewpoints, and nearly touched ears. "It's beautiful in its own way, it's young and radiant, and even after it burns out, it'll have left a permanent mark on the whole galaxy."

That certainly got the result I'd been striving for. Instead of merely agreeing, Pinkie Pie turned on her side, before snuggling up to me, one arm across my chest, and another behind my shoulders, coming together to pull herself closer to me. "Oh yeah?" she whispered, sending tingles of breath across the nape of my neck, which in turn sent chills down my spine. "Well, you're like that star over there. You're pretty, and unique. But you have a few things on that star, you know."

"I do?" This was becoming pleasantly surprising.

"Yeah, you do, silly. You're smart. Cute. D'awsome. And you're mine." Each word was punctuated by a gentle poke to the chest. "That's the best thing about you."

I couldn't have agreed more.

We spent a few more minutes like that. Just lying there in an eternal hug, me staring at the stars, and her mumbling to herself to almost no end. I still don't know why she likes to talk so much. But I supposed that it was just Pinkie. And 'just Pinkie' was the exact pony I'd come to know and love.

It was a good half an hour before I'd finally realized that Pinkie had fallen asleep next to me.

Two staggering, only-fueled-by-how-adorable-that-she-looked-when-she-slept minutes later, I managed to lower Pinkie into bed, gently pulling the sheets up to her chin, tucking the sides in with a care that a mother herself might rival.

"Snug as a bug..." Perhaps two weeks ago, those words in conjunction might send my face into a state of 'ew', or elicit a 'that's logically impossible', something along those lines. But now...with the sight of her, my lifelong dream mare-friend, tucked so warmly and safely into my bed, the most beautiful smile of contentment upon her lips...well, if my brain turned to mush just a little bit, it couldn't be helped. After all, 'love turns the most rational of ponies into babbling idiots', no?

Seeing such a sight only made me realize how tired I was myself. I managed to clamber into bed, pulling the sheets over me with only a simple thought. Magic had its advantages, after all. Barely suppressing a yawn, I pressed into my pillow, snuggled into a familiar pink pony's figure, and prepared for sleep...

"Twilight..." Came the gentle whisper from next to me. So, she wasn't asleep?

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for making my life so great...love you..."

What else could I say to that? "I love you too, Pinkie."

"Makes me sort of sad that there's only 240 left..."

Huh? Numbers again. It would probably be best to leave it be. Perhaps she's just counting the days to the next Running of The Leaves. It seems likely. Or maybe...

Scratch that thought. I'm tired.

And so, without another hesitation, I squeezed Pinkie close, and prepared for the plunge into dreamland...

Hopefully nightmare free that time around.