Visions of the Past

She finally slowed down as she entered the town again. For a moment, she was interrupted from her confused thoughts as a pony asked her for directions. She mumbled out a response then moved on, not caring if she was understood or not. She also became aware of her surroundings, every now and then, as she occasionally bumped into ponies or was stopped and asked for more directions.

Realizing she needed to get out of the street in the mindset she was in, the lavender pony hurried into the first place she came to, only realizing after she came in that it was Sugarcube Corner. Her eyes widened and her ears plastered to her head as all the sights around her threatened to bring back memories she didn't want to see right now.

"Twilight, you really must stop studying so often, you'll wear yourself out" The voice of Rarity jerked the unicorns attention over to a table in the corner. Six all too familiar mares sat there, sipping on milkshakes, as they enjoyed each others company.

"You’re one to talk, how many dresses did you design this week?" Twilight shot back, but in a kind voice to take any of the bite out of it.

"You both need to take more breaks more often, after all it’s hard to eat cake when you’re so busy." Pinkie Pie interjected happily.

"Sugarcube, we're not eatin cake now, we're having milkshakes" AJ said with an amused grin on her face.

"We aren't!? well then wait here, I'll go get some!" the pink pony said energetically as she zoomed off, leaving her friends laughing and enjoying her latest shenanigans.

"Dear are you alright? you look kinda pale." A voice gave her a jolt, the six mares faded away and she found herself looking at a table with a couple of pegasi and four earth mares, she'd never seen before talking together.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Cake, thanks for asking." she said quickly, hoping the flood she felt inside was not showing in any way on her face.

Mrs. Cake gave her a penetrating look, then seemed to accept the assurance,"Ok, I'm surprised to see you here, though. I thought you'd be overseeing everything."

"No, I setup the initial plan and gave it to a capable pony to take care of the details, somepony with more capable hooves than me at more formal affairs." the lavender unicorn answered absently, staring at the table again. One of the occupants saw her and gave her a questioning look, but when she didn't respond, he shrugged and went back to the conversation with the others.

"Well that's not like you dear, are you sure you’re alright? I'm always here for you if you need somepony to talk to or a shoulder to cry on." Mrs. Cake said softly.

"No I'm fine, really," she said as she felt another wave of sadness as she realized that there was an absence of loud noises coming from the kitchen. Once again, she felt the need to be away from there, "Well I gotta go." She said quickly, as she made her exit, relieved when the kind mare didn't try to stop her.

"Don't keep it in dear, we all loved her, you know, and we know how you feel! Don't be afraid to talk to us!" Mrs. Cake called after her, then shaking her head sadly, turned back to her shop and the waiting customers.