Maybe a Cupcake is Enough
Beep! Beep! Beep!
click
It was 6:00 a.m.
He lifted his hoof from the alarm clock and raised his head from the bed, looking at the calendar that sat on his night stand. It was October 13th.
October 13th.
His birthday.
He got out of bed and looked at his roommate still sleeping soundly. Still a heavy sleeper. He had wondered how in Equestria his roommate wasn't awoken by the blaring alarm clock. He always does. But not his roommate.
Doesn't matter.
He headed for the bathroom to prepare for the day. It was Thursday after all, and he has to head to class by eight.
It was 7:00 a.m.
Books? Check. Stationary? Check. Saddlebag? Check. Working horn? Check.
He was ready and trotted to the door and opened it with his magic. Before he left, he looked back to his roommate, still sleeping. His class was at nine. Lucky him. He closed the door and went for the campus.
As he trotted, he passed a swarm of ponies. All early-risers like him on their way to the campus as well. None wished him Happy Birthday.
Doesn't matter. They don't know.
He remembered every morning on his birthday. Everyone in his family wished him happy birthday.
"Hey, how's my birthday colt doing?" as his father greeted him first thing in the morning.
"Dad, I'm not a seven year old!" He whined.
"Well, you still are my colt whether you like it or not and I'm gonna keep doing this even if you're 70!" Dad heartily laughed.
"C'mon, smells like your mom baked a cake for you. Better get there fast or I'll eat all of them," Dad sniffed before inviting him to the kitchen.
"Race you there!" he challenged his Dad.
"Oh no, you don't. Come here you!" Dad shouted as he chased after him.
He still remembered that day. He was happy. He was grateful. He was together. This time however, his family wasn't here to wish him one. For the first time in his life, his family wasn't there with him. No brother, no sister, no baby brother and no Mom and Dad.
Doesn't matter. They still remember me.
His trot slowed to a walk as he looked at the cafeteria, packed with students wanting to have a bite before class. He joined them as he looked what was available. Sandwiches, Prench toast, biscuits and small chocolate cakes. He looked at the cakes, thinking of buying it. He looked at the price.
8 bits. It will go over his daily spending if he added the cake in his list.
Not worth it.
He shook his head and left the cafeteria with a pack of biscuits to eat on his way to the campus. After a few minutes of walking, he finally arrived at the giant doors of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and stopped and took a deep breath.
Just another day. He stepped in.
It was afternoon which meant lunch time. He didn't learn a single thing. He couldn't focus. He was too distracted. He didn't know why. All he knew was he wanted lunch.
On his way to the cafeteria, he remembered to avoid the West Wing of the campus. It was a consensus of every student of the school even for first-year students like him to avoid the West Wing at all costs during lunch break.
Ponies would ask why. However the answer was simple. It was where Princess Celestia's personal protégé liked to roam during lunch time.
Appearance wise, the Princess' protégé was a beautiful mare, smart and powerful too. He had a crush on her when he saw her the first time. Her radiant amber coat, her striking red and gold mane and her seducing teal eyes was hypnotic. However, looks can be deceiving. For a mare rich in beauty, knowledge and power, she's as poor as a beggar in the attitude department. She had the most atrocious attitude he had ever seen in a pony. Arrogant, short-tempered, condescending, grumpy and a bully. That killed any interest he had with her. He wondered why the Princess hadn't dismissed her from her tutelage. Everypony shared the same sentiment and nopony had the answer. It was a mystery.
After making sure he stayed clear of the West Wing he resumed his walk to the cafeteria. Thoughts of the Princess' protégé was moved to the back of his mind and replaced by thoughts of lunch as the cafeteria entered his sight. He immediately queue up at lines forming up to a hayburger stand.
After a few minutes of waiting, he finally purchased a hayburger with fries and took a seat near the windows. Lunch was spent quietly as he had no friends to hang out with nor new friends to make. He was content with what he had. Nopony.
Upon finishing, he looked to a clock nearby and saw the time. It was 1:45 p.m. 15 minutes before class. He got up and threw his rubbish into a nearby garbage bin and walked past the cake stand he passed by that morning. No longer interested in it.
Evening classes went by with nothing learned from him. He was unfocused just as he was during the morning classes. He returned to his room exhausted and without knowledge. Though, he vowed to study throughout the night to catch up.
Entering his room, he put his saddlebag down and jumped on his bed. He sat there for a few minutes, content on laying down on the comfortable bed. After a few minutes, he finally looked up and spotted something on his table. His curiosity perked, he got up from the bed to take a good look at it.
It was a small package and a note.
Deciding to read the note first. He levitated the note using his magic and brought it closer to him to read it. It only consisted of two sentences and it was in his roommate's hornwriting.
Found this small package with your name on it when looking for my letters. Thought I could bring it to you
His attention was drawn to the package on the table and levitated it onto his bed. He ripped the package to find a small box wrapped in a gift wrapper. Tearing the gift wrapper he was greeted by the sight of a small pastry box from a bakery from his home and a card. As he opened the box he saw a chocolate cupcake, his favourite flavour and a single unlit candle laid next to it. Finally his gaze moved to the card as he read it.
Happy Birthday, son!
Sorry we can't celebrate with you this year. Have this chocolate cupcake specially made by your Mom. Chocolate was your favourite after all. Know that we both love you! Make us proud!
Mom & Dad
p.s. : If we could send a cake we would but we're just a little concerned that the cake might not make it in one piece from home to Canterlot.
He looked back to the cupcake with tears in his eyes and put the card back on the table. His family remembered. They love him.
He put the candle on the cupcake and light it up with the help of basic pyromancy. He made his birthday wish and blew the candle to began eating the cupcake. As delicious tastes began to develop in his mouth, tears once again began to appear in his eyes. The cupcake almost has the taste of the chocolate cake, reminding him of the home he hadn't returned to for a while. Then he looked back at the half-eaten cupcake seeing the value of the it. It may not be cakes or expensive presents. But it still came from the family. That alone is enough.
Maybe a cupcake is enough.
Author's Note
Since today is my birthday, here's a little story.