The Majestic Tale of Red Velvet the Magnificentby Crystal WishesChaptersMorningNoonNightMorningI awake not with a want, but with a need. My tummy aches with hunger and the room is empty. Why is nopony ever around to take care of me when I awaken? I lie in wait and gaze at the portal through which somepony will walk any moment now. Surely they know by this point that I wake up hungry. How many times must we play this game before one of my careservants knows to come for me? The hunger grows. It gnaws at me from within. I can wait no longer, but I shan't punish my careservants too soon. After all, it isn't their fault that they are not perfectly attuned with my needs, not like Silly Faces is. I probe the silence with a soft whine. The portal remains closed. My whine escalates into a cry, but to no avail. Nopony comes to attend to my needs. I'm sorry, careservants, but you should have come sooner. After a deep breath, I exhale all of the air in my lungs into a shrill yell. This is no time for waiting games; I am hungry. Finally, after my third yell for attention, the portal opens and the Papa Sweets rushes in. "Hello, good morning, hi!" He carries with him a bottle of milk and I reach for it with all of my legs. I need it. Do not delay, Papa Sweets! "Here you go, here you go." He holds out the bottle and I snatch it from him. I offer a smile to show my gratitude before I begin the feasting on the sweet, glorious milk. He watches me with a silly face, though it is no match for the faces of Silly Faces. His is more soft and happy, which is not very funny. "How'd you sleep, little guy?" he asks, reaching down and stroking my mane. This is the time for food, not for chat! As it seems he has forgotten, I stare at him to make this fact known. He smiles. "You ready for another day at work?" There is a rush of excitement that courses through me at the word 'work'. It is the most delightful of times, where Papa Sweets makes wonderful-smelling luxuries and Mama Snuggles plays with brightly colored foodstuffs. But most importantly of all, it is during the time of work that Silly Faces will visit. After finishing the sweet milk, I toss the bottle aside and reach for Papa Sweets. It is time for work! Take me to work! He laughs, scooping me up and cradling me to his chest with one foreleg, and we begin the journey through the portal from the sleeping room to the long room. The long room ends in what my careservants call the stares, which I've frankly never understood. They should be called the walks. You walk on the stares, not stare at the stares. Staring at them does nothing! So, of course, Papa Sweets walks down the stares, which I think I am going to ignore their wisdom on and call the walks. ... Then again, walking on the walks sounds just as silly as on the stares. All right, careservants; you win this round. As he carries me down the stares, he pats my back as he always does and unbidden, a most impolite belch escapes from the depths of my body. I squeak my condolences for him having heard such a sound, and he accepts them with a gracious "good boy." Mama Snuggles is already down the stares and in the magic room where Papa Sweets bakes and she decorates. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. They get to play with sweet foodstuffs all day! Some ponies come to the bakery and complain about their work. Their lives must be awful if they have anything to complain about regarding the wonderful hours of work. I never want to complain about work. "Good morning, sweetieface!" Mama Snuggles chirps when Papa Sweets carries me over to her and I am exchanged for a pad of paper. If I weren't eager for my maternal careservant, I would argue that I am worth much more than paper, but today I'll let it slide. "Orders already?" Papa Sweets blinks. "We haven't even opened yet!" Mama Snuggles giggles and bounces me up and down on her knee. "There's a line outside, honey. I decided that, to save time, I'd take orders so when we do open, we'll be ready for them!" "But the time before we open is supposed to be family time," Papa Sweets says with a pitiable quiver of his lower lip. Family time? No, no, this is work time. I was promised work! Family time is just me and Papa Sweets and Mama Snuggles. There's no Silly Faces during family time, and I have a need! The bouncing of Mama Snuggles's knee is no longer amusing. She notices—where was this perceptiveness when I was hungry, hmm?—and she ceases the movement. I nod my appreciation. "Well, Red loves baking with you, and I love being with you, and isn't that what family time is all about?" Mama Snuggles is a very smart mare. I hope that if I grow up, I become a smart mare, too. Papa Sweets smiles, turning his attention to where it belongs: on me. "That's a pretty good point, don't you think?" I roll my eyes and they laugh. Apparently, they thought I was being sarcastic. No, no, I assure you, I am very serious when it comes to the intelligence of Mama Snuggles. "All right, then!" He turns the pad of paper to me. There is very uncreative scribbling on it. For as good as she is with sweetstuffs, Mama Snuggles is a terrible artist on paper. To her credit, however, not everypony can be perfect at everything. Just me. "Which should we do first, huh?" With careful consideration, I look at the boring little doodles, then reach out my hoof in an attempt to point out one in particular. To my surprise, the dastardly hoof was much bigger than I expected it to be and I watched in horror—and also a bit of fascination—as the lumbering brute hit the paper in three random places. Hoof! Why do you betray me so? Papa Sweets indulges my rampaging hoof with a smile. "Okay, so chocolate, confetti, and red velvet it is!" I gawk at the scribbles before they are taken out of my line of sight as Papa Sweets walks away. Somehow, their nonsense made sense to him. It must be an adult thing, something I will never understand and won't try to. Besides, there are more important things to think about, such as red velvet cupcakes. My careservants, kind and benevolent ponies they are, created a sweet treat that looks like me and gave it my name. I am and always will be humbled by their love for me. Even more wonderful than that is on multiple occasions, Silly Faces has said they are her favorite. Oh, Silly Faces, I hope you come to work soon! I miss you so! Mama Snuggles plays with my mane and hums a little song. My ears perk; they know the tune. I try to sing the words but the sounds that come from my mouth aren't quite right. My mouth and I sometimes don't agree on things, and today singing seems to be one of them. "That's right, sugarkisses!" Mama Snuggles taps her hooves to mine in rhythm with her song. "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Pepper Ridge, bake me a cake as fast as you can!" With masterful coordination, she makes my hooves dance with the words. "Pat it, and roll it, and mark it with an R, then put it in the oven for Red and me!" I squeal in delight as she tickles my tummy. I love my song! I love my tickles! I love my careservants! Then, I notice it, and my joy comes to a halt. My stacking blocks are unstacked. Somepony has unstacked my stacking blocks! I point at them to alert my careservants to the breach of security. This unspeakable deed cannot go unpunished! I demand that those responsible be found and brought before me for sentencing immediately! Mama Snuggles looks over and instead of the alarm she should have reacted with, she smiles. "Oh, you want to play with your blocks?" While she brings me over to them, I can do nothing but stare up at her in disbelief. Such a cavalier reaction! If I did not know you better, Mama Snuggles, I would suspect you of this atrocious act of vandalism! I let her off with a small grunt and turn my attention to the colorful cubes of stackable delight. All right, my precious blocks. It's time to get back into formation. Through careful maneuvering of my not-so-careful hooves, I set about on the task of righting the block tower. Blue, green, and red blocks go on the bottom, then a row of yellow, then a row of blue. Today, I think another row of blue is in order. A subtle hint to Mama Snuggles that I am on to her mischief-making, and it shan't be tolerated a day longer. NoonWhere, oh where has my Silly Faces gone? Where, oh where can she be? I wail my song while Mama Snuggles does her best to console me, but there is no cure for what ails me save for the arrival of my Silly Faces. Or a cookie. A cookie or my Silly Faces—I shall accept no substitutes. "Now, now, sugarsnap. Look what I have!" Mama Snuggles shakes a rattler before me. It is neither a cookie nor Silly Faces, so I slap it away. She gives me a stern look; I return it. "Is somepony ready for a nap? Hmm?" Mama Snuggles picks me up. "Pepper!" she calls. "Nap time!" "Coming!" Papa Sweets's voice replies. No, no, no! I don't want a nap! A nap takes me up the stares, and upstares takes me away from the downstares, and when Silly Faces shows up, she'll be downstares and I'll be upstares and— Papa Sweets comes into view with a kind, goofy smile that puts my heart at ease. A most bubbly of giggles escapes me as he picks me up and holds me to him. His hooves smell like frosting and sugar. He rocks me gently as he carries me up the stares and I yawn. Perhaps a nap wouldn't be so bad. "Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, lavender's blue," he sings softly and I coo my approval. "If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you." Yes, Papa Sweets. Sing me the song of sleep! He sets me down in my crib and tucks Blue Blankie around me. I am warm and content. "Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, and the lambs play. We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm's way." He smiles, places a kiss on my forehead, and starts for the portal. "Sleep tight, little guy." Oh, I will. I will sleep. I will sleep, and when I awaken... ... I will... find Silly Faces... ... even... if I have to... go... myself... ... ... I smell Silly Faces. She smells like flowers. A different kind of flower than the Rose Princess. Mama Snuggles uses roses sometimes, so I know what those are. Silly Faces smells different from roses. My eyes open and I see her face. It's not a silly face, but it fills me with glee nonetheless! Is this a dream? I blink a few times and her face does not disappear. No, this is the real life! First, I yawn casually so that she does not know how much joy she brings me. After all, she should have arrived sooner. "Hey, little guy. All done with your nap?" She smiles. "Mama told me that you were being unruly. Is that true?" Unruly? Me? Perish the thought! While I try to plead my case, she just picks me up and cradles me to her chest. I am overwhelmed by her floral scent. Perhaps I had been a little unruly, but it was for a just cause. I missed you, Silly Faces. If you had just been here, then I would not have had to act in such a deplorable manner. "Come on, I bought you something! Let's go downstares and try it on." Try it on? Oh, no. No. No, no, no. The last time Silly Faces said "try it on" I was put into an uncomfortable pink frock. I shan't be embarrassed again! Silly Faces giggles as she carries me through the portal and down the stares. "Calm down! I know you're excited! I am, too!" You are mistaken, Silly Faces! I am not excited! Not at all! I am taken into the back of the bakery where Mama Snuggles continues her tireless work of playing with sugary decorations. "Hi, Mom," Silly Faces says. She sets me down on the floor and retrieves a small bag. No, Silly Faces. No frocks! I am not a doll for your amusement! As I try to get away, I end up falling over onto my back. This is not getting away. Legs, why you no work? "What did you buy this time?" Mama Snuggles asks in a lighthearted tone, almost as though she delights in my torture. Silly Faces raises something grey and white out of the bag. "It's a little mouse costume!" A mouse? I look between the frock, Silly Faces, Mama Snuggles, and back to Silly Faces. I offer her my sweetest, biggest eyes. I do not know what a mouse is, but I don't want to be one! Why did I want you in my life again? You bring me nothing but frocks and misery! Mama Snuggles laughs. "Oh, this I have to see!" She turns to watch as I am forced, against my will, into the frock called 'mouse costume'. Silly Faces's hooves are much more compliant to her desires than mine and with little effort, I am bound by surprisingly soft cloth. I pause. I blink. It's soft and warm like Blue Blankie. "Oh my gosh, look at him!" Silly Faces picks me up and holds me in the air toward Mama Snuggles. "Did you know that it was possible for this little guy to become even more cute?!" No, I did not. I thought I was the cutest thing in the world. How can the cutest thing become even more cute? It is already the cutest! However, I appreciate the sentiment. Mama Snuggles claps her hooves. "This one's a keeper, cuddlebug! Aww, Red, just look at you!" I stare at Mama Snuggles. She does realize it is impossible for me to look at myself, right? Yes, I can see my hooves and some of myself, but I cannot see me like I can see her. I turn my head to look at Silly Faces to see if she is as perplexed by Mama Snuggles's words as I am. She does not seem to be aware of how ridiculous Mama Snuggles sounded, however. Instead, she is looking at me. I relish her attention and squirm to try to turn around in her hooves to return the favor. "Who's the cutest?" Silly Faces coos. "Huh? Who's the cutesy wutesiest cutie patootie?" My ears perk. I know that voice. I giggle at the mere thought of it. That voice is the precursor to... the silly faces of Silly Faces. She leans in, nuzzles her nose to mine, and begins phase one of silly faces. Her face bunches up as if her lips and her brow are all trying to reach for her nose. "Mousey Red is the cutest! That's who!" Her voice rises higher and she pulls back, grinning. I bounce in anticipation. Less talking, more facing! Please, Silly Faces! I have been waiting all day for this moment! Mama Snuggles laughs as she watches us. "Oh, silly goose, don't tease him. You know what he really wants!" "Okay, okay, okay." Silly Faces takes a breath in, then puffs out her cheeks and crosses her eyes. Her ears wiggle independently of one another, she releases the breath to allow her tongue to loll out the side of her mouth, and, finally, she gives her head a shake so that her tongue flops about. I giggle, wiggle, and jiggle my hooves about in the midst of my euphoria at her wonderful display. Oh, Silly Faces, how you delight me! Silly Faces breaks out into laughter and cuddles me to her chest, both forelegs wrapped around me for safety and comfort. I do my best to return the hug. I love you, Silly Faces, even more than Mama Snuggles and Papa Sweets. Mama Snuggles sighs. "Sometimes I think he loves you more than me, I really do." It's true. "Mom, don't say that! You know that's not true," Silly Faces benevolently lies. "Anyway, is there anything I can help out with?" "Nope! I'm actually all caught up." Mama Snuggles leans back into her seat. "I could do for a little gossip, though." She winks. Ah, gossip. My ears twitch as I do my best to pay attention. Gossip is a very important part of Mama Snuggles and Silly Faces's relationship. Someday, I hope to be able to gossip with them, too. It seems to be the best way to bond between mares. Silly Faces shifts me into her lap and starts to play with my forehooves. I allow it. "Sorry, I don't have much today. Crystal is busy as usual." Crystal—yes, the commoner's name for the Rose Princess. I am not fooled by such a ruse; I know who she truly is. The Rose Princess is not like Silly Faces or I. She is clearly above us, yet she walks among us. She does not talk about her past, but I imagine it must be tragic for such a pretty princess to be reduced to hiding under a false name, far and away from her kingdom. I imagine her kingdom smells as lovely as she does. It must be nice. And, of course, there is Her Knight. The Rose Princess and Her Knight sometimes stop in to sample our fare. Papa Sweets is very good at what he does, but he is no court cook! The Rose Princess is kind, however, and always showers Papa Sweets with praise over his luxuries that must be bland compared to what a princess normally eats. Someday, I hope the Rose Princess gets her kingdom back. As Silly Faces and Mama Snuggles discuss the mundane and ordinary life that the Rose Princess is forced to lead, I try to think of ways to help the poor displaced mare. Perhaps when I grow up I will help defeat whatever evil dragon or villain has taken over her kingdom. Then again... if Her Knight, who is scary—but I would expect him to be nothing less, as that is befitting of a knight tasked with protecting a princess—cannot reclaim her kingdom, then what chance do I stand? Maybe I'll settle for court cook. That's good enough for a commoner such as myself to hope for, I think. Red Velvet, Rose Kingdom Court Cook. Yeah, that will suit me just fine. Of course, I'll have to find a job that Silly Faces can do there, but that is a problem for a future me to solve. NightSilly Faces had decided it was time to get to work, and I couldn't agree more. My public awaits. While she delivers orders to tables, I ride upon her back and ensure the customers are happy. The bakery is very important to my careservants and I must do my part to help out. Thankfully, I am an expert pony relations pony. "Here you are! One chocolate milkshake and three cookies!" Silly Faces says as she sets a tray on a table where two ponies waited. "Thanks!" one of the ponies chimes, then looks at me. "Aww, he's so cute!" Yes, yes I am. I smile at her; she is most welcome. Silly Faces inclines her head to look at me out of the corner of her eye. "Yup, he's the cutest!" You flatter me, Silly Faces! But now is not the time for flattery. I must make sure these customers are satisfied, so— "Enjoy your sweet treats!" Silly Faces says and starts the trot to the back room to pick up the next order. No, no, wait! I haven't checked on their level of satisfaction! I haven't asked what we can do to improve their experience! Silly Faces, this is a place of business, and we must conduct ourselves accordingly! Silly Faces laughs. "Calm down, wigglebutt!" She wiggles her ears almost as if to mock me, but I know she would never do such an awful thing. "I'm going to drop something if you don't keep still!" I give her my sternest look, then nod. All right, I shall allow the insubordination this one time, but only because it's you, Silly Faces. "Do you need me to take him?" Mama Snuggles offers. Before I can state my case, Silly Faces shakes her head. "Nah, it's fine, Mom. He just gets worked up around the customers sometimes, but they love him, so who am I to deny 'em what they want?" Thank you, Silly Faces! I couldn't have said it better myself! Mama Snuggles laughs softly. "All right, all right. Do you mind delivering these cookies to table seven?" Silly Faces nods. "We're on it!" After balancing the tray on her head, she and I set back out for the main room. She pauses when she looks over at the table we were assigned. I peek around her head and gasp. There, sitting at the table, is The Other Little! She's the most fascinating pony I've ever known in my short but wonderful life. I bounce with excitement as we approach her table. The Other Little is one of the few ponies like me that I've met, but more than that, she is somehow able to effortlessly communicate with the big ponies like Silly Faces and my careservants. "Hi, Azu!" Silly Faces chimes. The Other Little turns her little blue head to look up at Silly Faces and she smiles wide. "Oh, hi Velvet! I didn't know you were working today!" Silly Faces drops the tray on the table, shifts me into the embrace of one foreleg, and sits down between The Other Little and my kinspony's friend, Wheels. "I work almost every day, you know." She winks while bouncing me on her knee. "How did the kite flying go?" The Other Little sighs, her ears falling flat to the sides. "Mr. Peepers got in a fight with a pigeon. The pigeon would have won if it weren't for Sandy's dragon chasing it off!" She looks over at Wheels with a renewed smile. "Thanks again, Sandy!" Wheels waves a hoof. "It's no problem. Always happy to help in the crusade against rogue pigeons." I try to wave to get The Other Little's attention. I must ask her how she can so easily get her words across to the big ponies! It's almost like she's one of them! She doesn't seem to notice me, her focus instead diverted to the cookies. Which is understandable, because now I want them, too. I wave my hooves at the plate. Silly Faces, notice me and my need! Because she seems to contain no faults—other than not always being around when I want her, and sometimes she takes Mama Snuggles's side, and sometimes she doesn't make silly faces when I want her to, and, wait, no, this is supposed about how perfect she is... Because she seems to contain very few faults, Silly Faces takes notice and points at the plate. "Okay if Red has a piece of one?" The Other Little gasps and nods. "Of course! Anything for Red!" I smile as Silly Faces breaks a cookie in half and offers it to me. I do not delay in taking it from her. Papa Sweets makes wonderful sweets and I am not one to waste his talent by playing coy. "So how are things?" Silly Faces asks. Ah, gossip time again. I nibble on the cookie and look between the mares as they talk back and forth about the ups and downs that their lives have to offer. Sometimes, listening to the gossip of mares, I'm not sure if I want to ever grow up... I look at The Other Little as she talks. Not only can she talk like a big pony, but she has a big pony's life, too. Perhaps that is the trade-off when one learns to speak their language: you become one of them. Perhaps communication is the catalyst to the little-to-big transformation. Maybe it's better that they don't understand me. "Okay, sorry, girls, but I gotta get back to work. Enjoy the cookies!" Silly Faces maneuvers to stand and puts me on her back again. The Other Little and Wheels wave goodbye. I sigh; someday, I would like to schedule a play date with The Other Little. I will have to consult with my careservants about this. After the sun has started to set and we are on one of our return trips to the back area, Mama Snuggles looks up when we come into her view. "I think we're about done with the orders for today, so why don't you and Red take a break until we close up shop?" Yes! I love breaks! I squeal with delight as Silly Faces sets me on the floor, lowering her head to keep it in line with mine. "Okay!" she replies, booping her nose to my own. "Come on, Red, let's see if you've gotten any stronger since yesterday, huh?" Stronger? My eyes widen. Oh, no, no, no! I didn't prepare myself for this! I am still too weak to challenge you, Silly Faces! Yes, I lifted my blocks earlier, but that isn't enough. I sputter and gurgle as she gently pushes me onto my back with one hoof, the other catching my head to guide it to the floor. Then, with both hooves, she begins to tickle my sides. The sensation is overwhelming. I squeal and giggle and cry and squirm and want to push her away but I also never want it to end. My hooves flail of their own accord and I manage to fend off one of the attackers, but the other catches me right under a foreleg. "Ooh, good move!" She laughs. "But not good enough! Rawr!" She ducks her head and blows a raspberry—at least that is what she calls it, though I greatly disagree, raspberries are nothing like this—against my stomach. While she is distracted with her attempt at a finishing blow, I get both of my hooves on either side of her face and give the mightiest push I can. It is just enough to give me room to wriggle out from beneath her, and my wobbly legs grace me with their compliance as I bound away. Silly Faces gasps. "Don't run!" But I must! I must, for your tickles are too much! I must—oh no, no, no legs, no not that way! Crash! I have collided with my block tower. I am sprawled in the ruins of my glorious block tower, destruction all around me, and despair fills my soul. There shall never be a block tower as great as this one had been, and now it is gone... forever. "Red! Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Silly Faces scoops me up and cradles me to her chest. "Shh, shh, don't cry." I hide my face. I'm not crying, Silly Faces! Why would I cry over the loss of a perfect, great, wonderful block tower that I destroyed? No, I didn't do it. It was these cursed legs of mine! I force my forelegs away from my face and hold them as far away from me as I can. Bad legs, bad! Silly Faces follows their direction as if she thought I was pointing. I follow the direction, too, and find that my legs were reaching for the remains of the block tower. Perhaps I was too harsh in my judgment of them. Perhaps they feel remorse for what they have done. Well, I'm in no mood to forgive them. "Oh, the blocks?" Silly Faces looks back at me with a smile. "Well, tomorrow, I'll bring you some more blocks and we'll build a whole fort, how's that?" A whole fort of blocks? I gaze at Silly Faces, Future Bringer of Blocks. Awe, admiration, and a bit of fear blooms in my chest. She can just do that? Bring more blocks? What sorcery is this? "Okay, ladies and gentlefoal," Papa Sweets says as he leans in through the portal. "The bakery is officially closed." Closed? Silly Faces nods and passes me off to Mama Snuggles. "Okay! I'll clean up. You two can go on and head home, I'll lock up when I'm done." Go home? A whimper springs from my depths and all eyes turn to me. I am not ashamed to admit that now I am crying, Silly Faces. Now you may hold me and tell me not to cry. I still will, but the comfort would be appreciated. "Aww, don't give me that look, little guy." Silly Faces ruffles my mane. It is not comforting. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay? With blocks!" Mama Snuggles sighs and rocks me gently. "You know, he doesn't look at me like that when I leave him with Pepper." That's because you're not Silly Faces. I love you, Mama Snuggles, but Silly Faces... Tears are falling down my cheeks. Silly Faces is special and she's leaving and what if she doesn't come tomorrow and I never see her again and I never get my fort of blocks and Silly Faces isn't there to come with me to the Rose Kingdom and I never see her again and she's gone forever and— Silly Faces plants a kiss on my forehead. "Love you, Red. Be a brave boy and don't cause trouble for Mom, okay?" I sniffle and try to stifle my tears. If that is what the Silly Faces wants, then that is what the Silly Faces gets. A brave boy. The bravest there ever was! Mama Snuggles stands, holding me with one foreleg. "Be sure to not stay too late, muffinlump. I'll clean whatever you don't in the morning." Silly Faces nods and raises one hoof to salute. "Yes, ma'am!" "Pepper?" Mama Snuggles asks as she carries me through the portal. "Can you—" "—get the blue blanket from upstares?" He smiles and trots for the portal that hides the stares. "On it!" Mama Snuggles waits for him, humming a little tune. It is comforting. I like it. I try to hum along with, though I don't know the tune, so she giggles at my incompetence. I forgive her because she has a good point; I'm just humming nonsense. "Got it!" Papa Sweets descends the stares, closes the door, and walks over. "Ready to go home?" "Yes." She raises her voice to call, "Have a good night, Velvet!" "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!" Silly Faces calls back. And just like that, Silly Faces is gone from my life. But I do not cry. I must be brave for Silly Faces and trust that she will return to me tomorrow, and that we shall build a great fort. It shall be named Silly Fort in her honor. It doesn't take long before we are at the building that our home lives in. Many homes live together in the building, like how the cookies all live together on one sheet. Except our homes don't go in the oven. Thank goodness for that. "I'll get started on dinner while you put him down," Papa Sweets says once we are inside our home, draping Blue Blankie over her back. Mama Snuggles nods. "Thanks, dear." She looks down at me while we head to my portal. "Okay, honeytickles, what will it be tonight?" I stare at her. I want a tale about a princess and a knight, but how do I make that clear? She sets me in my crib, which is much nicer than the one above the bakery, and tucks Blue Blankie over me. Then she goes over to the bookshelf against one wall. "Hmm, let's see..." A princess and a knight! I do not know if we carry such literature in this household, but if we do, that is what I want, Mama Snuggles. "How about Pet the Bunny?" she offers, picking up the book in question. What? No, Mama Snuggles, that is a book for foals. I am too old for such nonsense! If you make me pet the bunny one more time, I will commence the tantrum! Mama Snuggles does not heed my warnings, instead sitting on the stool by my crib and leaning over the edge. "Look, Red. The bunny is soft. Don't you want to pet the bunny?" No, I do not. I look at the little bunny on the page. She takes my hoof and guides it towards the fluffy figure. No, Mama Snuggles, do not want! My hoof comes in contact with the bunny. Oh. It is soft. Very soft. I stroke its fur. Had I remembered how soft it was, perhaps I would not have been so quick to spurn the idea. We finish the tactile experience and Mama Snuggles sets the book aside. I am soothed by all the soft, velvety things I have touched and close my eyes while she sings one final lullaby. "Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, smiles await you when you rise. Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby." Mama Snuggles has a beautiful voice. It calms my very soul and I feel myself drifting to the land of slumber. "Cares you know not, therefore sleep, while over you a watch I'll keep. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby." A gentle kiss is planted on my forehead and Mama Snuggles whispers, "Goodnight, my precious little cupcake." I hear her hoofsteps moving toward the door and try to reply. "Googni," my mouth says. Hmm... That sounded better in my head. I shall have to practice my goodnights in private. For now, however, I must sleep.
MorningI awake not with a want, but with a need. My tummy aches with hunger and the room is empty. Why is nopony ever around to take care of me when I awaken? I lie in wait and gaze at the portal through which somepony will walk any moment now. Surely they know by this point that I wake up hungry. How many times must we play this game before one of my careservants knows to come for me? The hunger grows. It gnaws at me from within. I can wait no longer, but I shan't punish my careservants too soon. After all, it isn't their fault that they are not perfectly attuned with my needs, not like Silly Faces is. I probe the silence with a soft whine. The portal remains closed. My whine escalates into a cry, but to no avail. Nopony comes to attend to my needs. I'm sorry, careservants, but you should have come sooner. After a deep breath, I exhale all of the air in my lungs into a shrill yell. This is no time for waiting games; I am hungry. Finally, after my third yell for attention, the portal opens and the Papa Sweets rushes in. "Hello, good morning, hi!" He carries with him a bottle of milk and I reach for it with all of my legs. I need it. Do not delay, Papa Sweets! "Here you go, here you go." He holds out the bottle and I snatch it from him. I offer a smile to show my gratitude before I begin the feasting on the sweet, glorious milk. He watches me with a silly face, though it is no match for the faces of Silly Faces. His is more soft and happy, which is not very funny. "How'd you sleep, little guy?" he asks, reaching down and stroking my mane. This is the time for food, not for chat! As it seems he has forgotten, I stare at him to make this fact known. He smiles. "You ready for another day at work?" There is a rush of excitement that courses through me at the word 'work'. It is the most delightful of times, where Papa Sweets makes wonderful-smelling luxuries and Mama Snuggles plays with brightly colored foodstuffs. But most importantly of all, it is during the time of work that Silly Faces will visit. After finishing the sweet milk, I toss the bottle aside and reach for Papa Sweets. It is time for work! Take me to work! He laughs, scooping me up and cradling me to his chest with one foreleg, and we begin the journey through the portal from the sleeping room to the long room. The long room ends in what my careservants call the stares, which I've frankly never understood. They should be called the walks. You walk on the stares, not stare at the stares. Staring at them does nothing! So, of course, Papa Sweets walks down the stares, which I think I am going to ignore their wisdom on and call the walks. ... Then again, walking on the walks sounds just as silly as on the stares. All right, careservants; you win this round. As he carries me down the stares, he pats my back as he always does and unbidden, a most impolite belch escapes from the depths of my body. I squeak my condolences for him having heard such a sound, and he accepts them with a gracious "good boy." Mama Snuggles is already down the stares and in the magic room where Papa Sweets bakes and she decorates. When I grow up, I want to be just like them. They get to play with sweet foodstuffs all day! Some ponies come to the bakery and complain about their work. Their lives must be awful if they have anything to complain about regarding the wonderful hours of work. I never want to complain about work. "Good morning, sweetieface!" Mama Snuggles chirps when Papa Sweets carries me over to her and I am exchanged for a pad of paper. If I weren't eager for my maternal careservant, I would argue that I am worth much more than paper, but today I'll let it slide. "Orders already?" Papa Sweets blinks. "We haven't even opened yet!" Mama Snuggles giggles and bounces me up and down on her knee. "There's a line outside, honey. I decided that, to save time, I'd take orders so when we do open, we'll be ready for them!" "But the time before we open is supposed to be family time," Papa Sweets says with a pitiable quiver of his lower lip. Family time? No, no, this is work time. I was promised work! Family time is just me and Papa Sweets and Mama Snuggles. There's no Silly Faces during family time, and I have a need! The bouncing of Mama Snuggles's knee is no longer amusing. She notices—where was this perceptiveness when I was hungry, hmm?—and she ceases the movement. I nod my appreciation. "Well, Red loves baking with you, and I love being with you, and isn't that what family time is all about?" Mama Snuggles is a very smart mare. I hope that if I grow up, I become a smart mare, too. Papa Sweets smiles, turning his attention to where it belongs: on me. "That's a pretty good point, don't you think?" I roll my eyes and they laugh. Apparently, they thought I was being sarcastic. No, no, I assure you, I am very serious when it comes to the intelligence of Mama Snuggles. "All right, then!" He turns the pad of paper to me. There is very uncreative scribbling on it. For as good as she is with sweetstuffs, Mama Snuggles is a terrible artist on paper. To her credit, however, not everypony can be perfect at everything. Just me. "Which should we do first, huh?" With careful consideration, I look at the boring little doodles, then reach out my hoof in an attempt to point out one in particular. To my surprise, the dastardly hoof was much bigger than I expected it to be and I watched in horror—and also a bit of fascination—as the lumbering brute hit the paper in three random places. Hoof! Why do you betray me so? Papa Sweets indulges my rampaging hoof with a smile. "Okay, so chocolate, confetti, and red velvet it is!" I gawk at the scribbles before they are taken out of my line of sight as Papa Sweets walks away. Somehow, their nonsense made sense to him. It must be an adult thing, something I will never understand and won't try to. Besides, there are more important things to think about, such as red velvet cupcakes. My careservants, kind and benevolent ponies they are, created a sweet treat that looks like me and gave it my name. I am and always will be humbled by their love for me. Even more wonderful than that is on multiple occasions, Silly Faces has said they are her favorite. Oh, Silly Faces, I hope you come to work soon! I miss you so! Mama Snuggles plays with my mane and hums a little song. My ears perk; they know the tune. I try to sing the words but the sounds that come from my mouth aren't quite right. My mouth and I sometimes don't agree on things, and today singing seems to be one of them. "That's right, sugarkisses!" Mama Snuggles taps her hooves to mine in rhythm with her song. "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Pepper Ridge, bake me a cake as fast as you can!" With masterful coordination, she makes my hooves dance with the words. "Pat it, and roll it, and mark it with an R, then put it in the oven for Red and me!" I squeal in delight as she tickles my tummy. I love my song! I love my tickles! I love my careservants! Then, I notice it, and my joy comes to a halt. My stacking blocks are unstacked. Somepony has unstacked my stacking blocks! I point at them to alert my careservants to the breach of security. This unspeakable deed cannot go unpunished! I demand that those responsible be found and brought before me for sentencing immediately! Mama Snuggles looks over and instead of the alarm she should have reacted with, she smiles. "Oh, you want to play with your blocks?" While she brings me over to them, I can do nothing but stare up at her in disbelief. Such a cavalier reaction! If I did not know you better, Mama Snuggles, I would suspect you of this atrocious act of vandalism! I let her off with a small grunt and turn my attention to the colorful cubes of stackable delight. All right, my precious blocks. It's time to get back into formation. Through careful maneuvering of my not-so-careful hooves, I set about on the task of righting the block tower. Blue, green, and red blocks go on the bottom, then a row of yellow, then a row of blue. Today, I think another row of blue is in order. A subtle hint to Mama Snuggles that I am on to her mischief-making, and it shan't be tolerated a day longer.
NoonWhere, oh where has my Silly Faces gone? Where, oh where can she be? I wail my song while Mama Snuggles does her best to console me, but there is no cure for what ails me save for the arrival of my Silly Faces. Or a cookie. A cookie or my Silly Faces—I shall accept no substitutes. "Now, now, sugarsnap. Look what I have!" Mama Snuggles shakes a rattler before me. It is neither a cookie nor Silly Faces, so I slap it away. She gives me a stern look; I return it. "Is somepony ready for a nap? Hmm?" Mama Snuggles picks me up. "Pepper!" she calls. "Nap time!" "Coming!" Papa Sweets's voice replies. No, no, no! I don't want a nap! A nap takes me up the stares, and upstares takes me away from the downstares, and when Silly Faces shows up, she'll be downstares and I'll be upstares and— Papa Sweets comes into view with a kind, goofy smile that puts my heart at ease. A most bubbly of giggles escapes me as he picks me up and holds me to him. His hooves smell like frosting and sugar. He rocks me gently as he carries me up the stares and I yawn. Perhaps a nap wouldn't be so bad. "Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, lavender's blue," he sings softly and I coo my approval. "If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you." Yes, Papa Sweets. Sing me the song of sleep! He sets me down in my crib and tucks Blue Blankie around me. I am warm and content. "Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, and the lambs play. We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm's way." He smiles, places a kiss on my forehead, and starts for the portal. "Sleep tight, little guy." Oh, I will. I will sleep. I will sleep, and when I awaken... ... I will... find Silly Faces... ... even... if I have to... go... myself... ... ... I smell Silly Faces. She smells like flowers. A different kind of flower than the Rose Princess. Mama Snuggles uses roses sometimes, so I know what those are. Silly Faces smells different from roses. My eyes open and I see her face. It's not a silly face, but it fills me with glee nonetheless! Is this a dream? I blink a few times and her face does not disappear. No, this is the real life! First, I yawn casually so that she does not know how much joy she brings me. After all, she should have arrived sooner. "Hey, little guy. All done with your nap?" She smiles. "Mama told me that you were being unruly. Is that true?" Unruly? Me? Perish the thought! While I try to plead my case, she just picks me up and cradles me to her chest. I am overwhelmed by her floral scent. Perhaps I had been a little unruly, but it was for a just cause. I missed you, Silly Faces. If you had just been here, then I would not have had to act in such a deplorable manner. "Come on, I bought you something! Let's go downstares and try it on." Try it on? Oh, no. No. No, no, no. The last time Silly Faces said "try it on" I was put into an uncomfortable pink frock. I shan't be embarrassed again! Silly Faces giggles as she carries me through the portal and down the stares. "Calm down! I know you're excited! I am, too!" You are mistaken, Silly Faces! I am not excited! Not at all! I am taken into the back of the bakery where Mama Snuggles continues her tireless work of playing with sugary decorations. "Hi, Mom," Silly Faces says. She sets me down on the floor and retrieves a small bag. No, Silly Faces. No frocks! I am not a doll for your amusement! As I try to get away, I end up falling over onto my back. This is not getting away. Legs, why you no work? "What did you buy this time?" Mama Snuggles asks in a lighthearted tone, almost as though she delights in my torture. Silly Faces raises something grey and white out of the bag. "It's a little mouse costume!" A mouse? I look between the frock, Silly Faces, Mama Snuggles, and back to Silly Faces. I offer her my sweetest, biggest eyes. I do not know what a mouse is, but I don't want to be one! Why did I want you in my life again? You bring me nothing but frocks and misery! Mama Snuggles laughs. "Oh, this I have to see!" She turns to watch as I am forced, against my will, into the frock called 'mouse costume'. Silly Faces's hooves are much more compliant to her desires than mine and with little effort, I am bound by surprisingly soft cloth. I pause. I blink. It's soft and warm like Blue Blankie. "Oh my gosh, look at him!" Silly Faces picks me up and holds me in the air toward Mama Snuggles. "Did you know that it was possible for this little guy to become even more cute?!" No, I did not. I thought I was the cutest thing in the world. How can the cutest thing become even more cute? It is already the cutest! However, I appreciate the sentiment. Mama Snuggles claps her hooves. "This one's a keeper, cuddlebug! Aww, Red, just look at you!" I stare at Mama Snuggles. She does realize it is impossible for me to look at myself, right? Yes, I can see my hooves and some of myself, but I cannot see me like I can see her. I turn my head to look at Silly Faces to see if she is as perplexed by Mama Snuggles's words as I am. She does not seem to be aware of how ridiculous Mama Snuggles sounded, however. Instead, she is looking at me. I relish her attention and squirm to try to turn around in her hooves to return the favor. "Who's the cutest?" Silly Faces coos. "Huh? Who's the cutesy wutesiest cutie patootie?" My ears perk. I know that voice. I giggle at the mere thought of it. That voice is the precursor to... the silly faces of Silly Faces. She leans in, nuzzles her nose to mine, and begins phase one of silly faces. Her face bunches up as if her lips and her brow are all trying to reach for her nose. "Mousey Red is the cutest! That's who!" Her voice rises higher and she pulls back, grinning. I bounce in anticipation. Less talking, more facing! Please, Silly Faces! I have been waiting all day for this moment! Mama Snuggles laughs as she watches us. "Oh, silly goose, don't tease him. You know what he really wants!" "Okay, okay, okay." Silly Faces takes a breath in, then puffs out her cheeks and crosses her eyes. Her ears wiggle independently of one another, she releases the breath to allow her tongue to loll out the side of her mouth, and, finally, she gives her head a shake so that her tongue flops about. I giggle, wiggle, and jiggle my hooves about in the midst of my euphoria at her wonderful display. Oh, Silly Faces, how you delight me! Silly Faces breaks out into laughter and cuddles me to her chest, both forelegs wrapped around me for safety and comfort. I do my best to return the hug. I love you, Silly Faces, even more than Mama Snuggles and Papa Sweets. Mama Snuggles sighs. "Sometimes I think he loves you more than me, I really do." It's true. "Mom, don't say that! You know that's not true," Silly Faces benevolently lies. "Anyway, is there anything I can help out with?" "Nope! I'm actually all caught up." Mama Snuggles leans back into her seat. "I could do for a little gossip, though." She winks. Ah, gossip. My ears twitch as I do my best to pay attention. Gossip is a very important part of Mama Snuggles and Silly Faces's relationship. Someday, I hope to be able to gossip with them, too. It seems to be the best way to bond between mares. Silly Faces shifts me into her lap and starts to play with my forehooves. I allow it. "Sorry, I don't have much today. Crystal is busy as usual." Crystal—yes, the commoner's name for the Rose Princess. I am not fooled by such a ruse; I know who she truly is. The Rose Princess is not like Silly Faces or I. She is clearly above us, yet she walks among us. She does not talk about her past, but I imagine it must be tragic for such a pretty princess to be reduced to hiding under a false name, far and away from her kingdom. I imagine her kingdom smells as lovely as she does. It must be nice. And, of course, there is Her Knight. The Rose Princess and Her Knight sometimes stop in to sample our fare. Papa Sweets is very good at what he does, but he is no court cook! The Rose Princess is kind, however, and always showers Papa Sweets with praise over his luxuries that must be bland compared to what a princess normally eats. Someday, I hope the Rose Princess gets her kingdom back. As Silly Faces and Mama Snuggles discuss the mundane and ordinary life that the Rose Princess is forced to lead, I try to think of ways to help the poor displaced mare. Perhaps when I grow up I will help defeat whatever evil dragon or villain has taken over her kingdom. Then again... if Her Knight, who is scary—but I would expect him to be nothing less, as that is befitting of a knight tasked with protecting a princess—cannot reclaim her kingdom, then what chance do I stand? Maybe I'll settle for court cook. That's good enough for a commoner such as myself to hope for, I think. Red Velvet, Rose Kingdom Court Cook. Yeah, that will suit me just fine. Of course, I'll have to find a job that Silly Faces can do there, but that is a problem for a future me to solve.
NightSilly Faces had decided it was time to get to work, and I couldn't agree more. My public awaits. While she delivers orders to tables, I ride upon her back and ensure the customers are happy. The bakery is very important to my careservants and I must do my part to help out. Thankfully, I am an expert pony relations pony. "Here you are! One chocolate milkshake and three cookies!" Silly Faces says as she sets a tray on a table where two ponies waited. "Thanks!" one of the ponies chimes, then looks at me. "Aww, he's so cute!" Yes, yes I am. I smile at her; she is most welcome. Silly Faces inclines her head to look at me out of the corner of her eye. "Yup, he's the cutest!" You flatter me, Silly Faces! But now is not the time for flattery. I must make sure these customers are satisfied, so— "Enjoy your sweet treats!" Silly Faces says and starts the trot to the back room to pick up the next order. No, no, wait! I haven't checked on their level of satisfaction! I haven't asked what we can do to improve their experience! Silly Faces, this is a place of business, and we must conduct ourselves accordingly! Silly Faces laughs. "Calm down, wigglebutt!" She wiggles her ears almost as if to mock me, but I know she would never do such an awful thing. "I'm going to drop something if you don't keep still!" I give her my sternest look, then nod. All right, I shall allow the insubordination this one time, but only because it's you, Silly Faces. "Do you need me to take him?" Mama Snuggles offers. Before I can state my case, Silly Faces shakes her head. "Nah, it's fine, Mom. He just gets worked up around the customers sometimes, but they love him, so who am I to deny 'em what they want?" Thank you, Silly Faces! I couldn't have said it better myself! Mama Snuggles laughs softly. "All right, all right. Do you mind delivering these cookies to table seven?" Silly Faces nods. "We're on it!" After balancing the tray on her head, she and I set back out for the main room. She pauses when she looks over at the table we were assigned. I peek around her head and gasp. There, sitting at the table, is The Other Little! She's the most fascinating pony I've ever known in my short but wonderful life. I bounce with excitement as we approach her table. The Other Little is one of the few ponies like me that I've met, but more than that, she is somehow able to effortlessly communicate with the big ponies like Silly Faces and my careservants. "Hi, Azu!" Silly Faces chimes. The Other Little turns her little blue head to look up at Silly Faces and she smiles wide. "Oh, hi Velvet! I didn't know you were working today!" Silly Faces drops the tray on the table, shifts me into the embrace of one foreleg, and sits down between The Other Little and my kinspony's friend, Wheels. "I work almost every day, you know." She winks while bouncing me on her knee. "How did the kite flying go?" The Other Little sighs, her ears falling flat to the sides. "Mr. Peepers got in a fight with a pigeon. The pigeon would have won if it weren't for Sandy's dragon chasing it off!" She looks over at Wheels with a renewed smile. "Thanks again, Sandy!" Wheels waves a hoof. "It's no problem. Always happy to help in the crusade against rogue pigeons." I try to wave to get The Other Little's attention. I must ask her how she can so easily get her words across to the big ponies! It's almost like she's one of them! She doesn't seem to notice me, her focus instead diverted to the cookies. Which is understandable, because now I want them, too. I wave my hooves at the plate. Silly Faces, notice me and my need! Because she seems to contain no faults—other than not always being around when I want her, and sometimes she takes Mama Snuggles's side, and sometimes she doesn't make silly faces when I want her to, and, wait, no, this is supposed about how perfect she is... Because she seems to contain very few faults, Silly Faces takes notice and points at the plate. "Okay if Red has a piece of one?" The Other Little gasps and nods. "Of course! Anything for Red!" I smile as Silly Faces breaks a cookie in half and offers it to me. I do not delay in taking it from her. Papa Sweets makes wonderful sweets and I am not one to waste his talent by playing coy. "So how are things?" Silly Faces asks. Ah, gossip time again. I nibble on the cookie and look between the mares as they talk back and forth about the ups and downs that their lives have to offer. Sometimes, listening to the gossip of mares, I'm not sure if I want to ever grow up... I look at The Other Little as she talks. Not only can she talk like a big pony, but she has a big pony's life, too. Perhaps that is the trade-off when one learns to speak their language: you become one of them. Perhaps communication is the catalyst to the little-to-big transformation. Maybe it's better that they don't understand me. "Okay, sorry, girls, but I gotta get back to work. Enjoy the cookies!" Silly Faces maneuvers to stand and puts me on her back again. The Other Little and Wheels wave goodbye. I sigh; someday, I would like to schedule a play date with The Other Little. I will have to consult with my careservants about this. After the sun has started to set and we are on one of our return trips to the back area, Mama Snuggles looks up when we come into her view. "I think we're about done with the orders for today, so why don't you and Red take a break until we close up shop?" Yes! I love breaks! I squeal with delight as Silly Faces sets me on the floor, lowering her head to keep it in line with mine. "Okay!" she replies, booping her nose to my own. "Come on, Red, let's see if you've gotten any stronger since yesterday, huh?" Stronger? My eyes widen. Oh, no, no, no! I didn't prepare myself for this! I am still too weak to challenge you, Silly Faces! Yes, I lifted my blocks earlier, but that isn't enough. I sputter and gurgle as she gently pushes me onto my back with one hoof, the other catching my head to guide it to the floor. Then, with both hooves, she begins to tickle my sides. The sensation is overwhelming. I squeal and giggle and cry and squirm and want to push her away but I also never want it to end. My hooves flail of their own accord and I manage to fend off one of the attackers, but the other catches me right under a foreleg. "Ooh, good move!" She laughs. "But not good enough! Rawr!" She ducks her head and blows a raspberry—at least that is what she calls it, though I greatly disagree, raspberries are nothing like this—against my stomach. While she is distracted with her attempt at a finishing blow, I get both of my hooves on either side of her face and give the mightiest push I can. It is just enough to give me room to wriggle out from beneath her, and my wobbly legs grace me with their compliance as I bound away. Silly Faces gasps. "Don't run!" But I must! I must, for your tickles are too much! I must—oh no, no, no legs, no not that way! Crash! I have collided with my block tower. I am sprawled in the ruins of my glorious block tower, destruction all around me, and despair fills my soul. There shall never be a block tower as great as this one had been, and now it is gone... forever. "Red! Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Silly Faces scoops me up and cradles me to her chest. "Shh, shh, don't cry." I hide my face. I'm not crying, Silly Faces! Why would I cry over the loss of a perfect, great, wonderful block tower that I destroyed? No, I didn't do it. It was these cursed legs of mine! I force my forelegs away from my face and hold them as far away from me as I can. Bad legs, bad! Silly Faces follows their direction as if she thought I was pointing. I follow the direction, too, and find that my legs were reaching for the remains of the block tower. Perhaps I was too harsh in my judgment of them. Perhaps they feel remorse for what they have done. Well, I'm in no mood to forgive them. "Oh, the blocks?" Silly Faces looks back at me with a smile. "Well, tomorrow, I'll bring you some more blocks and we'll build a whole fort, how's that?" A whole fort of blocks? I gaze at Silly Faces, Future Bringer of Blocks. Awe, admiration, and a bit of fear blooms in my chest. She can just do that? Bring more blocks? What sorcery is this? "Okay, ladies and gentlefoal," Papa Sweets says as he leans in through the portal. "The bakery is officially closed." Closed? Silly Faces nods and passes me off to Mama Snuggles. "Okay! I'll clean up. You two can go on and head home, I'll lock up when I'm done." Go home? A whimper springs from my depths and all eyes turn to me. I am not ashamed to admit that now I am crying, Silly Faces. Now you may hold me and tell me not to cry. I still will, but the comfort would be appreciated. "Aww, don't give me that look, little guy." Silly Faces ruffles my mane. It is not comforting. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay? With blocks!" Mama Snuggles sighs and rocks me gently. "You know, he doesn't look at me like that when I leave him with Pepper." That's because you're not Silly Faces. I love you, Mama Snuggles, but Silly Faces... Tears are falling down my cheeks. Silly Faces is special and she's leaving and what if she doesn't come tomorrow and I never see her again and I never get my fort of blocks and Silly Faces isn't there to come with me to the Rose Kingdom and I never see her again and she's gone forever and— Silly Faces plants a kiss on my forehead. "Love you, Red. Be a brave boy and don't cause trouble for Mom, okay?" I sniffle and try to stifle my tears. If that is what the Silly Faces wants, then that is what the Silly Faces gets. A brave boy. The bravest there ever was! Mama Snuggles stands, holding me with one foreleg. "Be sure to not stay too late, muffinlump. I'll clean whatever you don't in the morning." Silly Faces nods and raises one hoof to salute. "Yes, ma'am!" "Pepper?" Mama Snuggles asks as she carries me through the portal. "Can you—" "—get the blue blanket from upstares?" He smiles and trots for the portal that hides the stares. "On it!" Mama Snuggles waits for him, humming a little tune. It is comforting. I like it. I try to hum along with, though I don't know the tune, so she giggles at my incompetence. I forgive her because she has a good point; I'm just humming nonsense. "Got it!" Papa Sweets descends the stares, closes the door, and walks over. "Ready to go home?" "Yes." She raises her voice to call, "Have a good night, Velvet!" "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!" Silly Faces calls back. And just like that, Silly Faces is gone from my life. But I do not cry. I must be brave for Silly Faces and trust that she will return to me tomorrow, and that we shall build a great fort. It shall be named Silly Fort in her honor. It doesn't take long before we are at the building that our home lives in. Many homes live together in the building, like how the cookies all live together on one sheet. Except our homes don't go in the oven. Thank goodness for that. "I'll get started on dinner while you put him down," Papa Sweets says once we are inside our home, draping Blue Blankie over her back. Mama Snuggles nods. "Thanks, dear." She looks down at me while we head to my portal. "Okay, honeytickles, what will it be tonight?" I stare at her. I want a tale about a princess and a knight, but how do I make that clear? She sets me in my crib, which is much nicer than the one above the bakery, and tucks Blue Blankie over me. Then she goes over to the bookshelf against one wall. "Hmm, let's see..." A princess and a knight! I do not know if we carry such literature in this household, but if we do, that is what I want, Mama Snuggles. "How about Pet the Bunny?" she offers, picking up the book in question. What? No, Mama Snuggles, that is a book for foals. I am too old for such nonsense! If you make me pet the bunny one more time, I will commence the tantrum! Mama Snuggles does not heed my warnings, instead sitting on the stool by my crib and leaning over the edge. "Look, Red. The bunny is soft. Don't you want to pet the bunny?" No, I do not. I look at the little bunny on the page. She takes my hoof and guides it towards the fluffy figure. No, Mama Snuggles, do not want! My hoof comes in contact with the bunny. Oh. It is soft. Very soft. I stroke its fur. Had I remembered how soft it was, perhaps I would not have been so quick to spurn the idea. We finish the tactile experience and Mama Snuggles sets the book aside. I am soothed by all the soft, velvety things I have touched and close my eyes while she sings one final lullaby. "Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, smiles await you when you rise. Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby." Mama Snuggles has a beautiful voice. It calms my very soul and I feel myself drifting to the land of slumber. "Cares you know not, therefore sleep, while over you a watch I'll keep. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby." A gentle kiss is planted on my forehead and Mama Snuggles whispers, "Goodnight, my precious little cupcake." I hear her hoofsteps moving toward the door and try to reply. "Googni," my mouth says. Hmm... That sounded better in my head. I shall have to practice my goodnights in private. For now, however, I must sleep.
