"Same time next week?"

Pinkie's words still rattled through Pound's mind as he returned to the apartment he and his sister shared. He checked the mail, but there wasn't anything there. This was fairly common, for Pumpkin usually checked the mailbox in the mornings and took whatever was inside with her to the bakery. Pound often didn't find out about mail addressed to him until Pumpkin returned home in the afternoon.

He sat on the couch, cradling a glass of something quite a bit stronger than apple cider, until he finally gave up on trying to relax. His nerves were wound up like a spring, and he really didn't want to be alone with his thoughts, which still echoed back the words of his former foalsitter. With this in mind, he decided to stop by the bakery his sister ran.

Pumpkin wasn't shocked to see her brother arrive, but she was surprised by the almost pained expression on his face.

She finished checking out her latest customer before going over to comfort him.

"Pound? What's wrong?" she asked. "Did something happen at the interview?"

"It's," he started, but he paused as if contemplating his word choice. "I was just sent on an unpleasant trip down memory lane. That's all."

"OK," she said, giving him a side hug. She wasn't one to push for information if he didn't want to give it. "Just let me know if you need anything, 'kay?"

He gave a half-hearted nod, and Pumpkin went back to her space behind the counter. It wasn't long before Pound had taken a seat on one of the stools across the counter from his sister.

"Hey, sis," he started, catching Pumpkin's attention. "What do you remember about Pinkie Pie?"

As his words left his muzzle, Pumpkin dropped the plate she'd been holding out of surprise. It clattered to the ground loudly.

"Pinkie Pie?" she asked as she began to pick up the mess. "Our old foalsitter? Gosh, I don't think I've even thought about her for a while now."

"I know, right?" her brother replies, still looking plain miserable.

"Well, I remember she was always trying to make us laugh. Even if it didn't always work. Hey, didn't she have that, like, ridiculously poofy manestyle? Wait a second. Why are you thinking of Pinkie all of a sudden?"

Her brother was quiet for a moment before replying.

"I just saw somepony that reminded me of her today, that's all."

Pumpkin could tell Pound was hiding something, and she didn't much enjoy the fact that her brother was keeping secrets from her. However, if he was this shaken by whatever had happened, she wasn't going to push it any farther until he calmed down a bit.

The rest of the day, Pound continued wallowing in the aftershock of his encounter with Pinkie. He was extremely thankful that his sister was there for him. Seeing how worried she was just because he was upset, he got the distinct suspicion that neither of them would know what to do without the other.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait! I've been working on other projects here on FimFiction, and honestly didn't even notice how long it had been since I'd updated this story. I hope to be getting back to regular updates shortly!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!