An old friend

Don't cry because it's over, but instead, smile, because it happened.

-Dr. Suess

Awe, but mom, I don't want to go to Grandma's house, she's always so crazy, why does she even want me there?" Lake Lilly complained to her mother, Lyra. Lake Lilly was a very light pink, almost white, and her mane, which was down across her face, was jet black. Before Lyra could answer, Bubble Berry, he father stepped in.

"My mother has a very important story you need to hear. It will only be for a little bit. She is going to tell you about your grandfather." Bubble Berry, the owner of Big Bubble Bubblegum Incorporated said. Lake Lilly frowned deeply, her grandfather had been considered one of the greatest ponies to ever come to Ponyville, where her grandmother lived, unlike them, who lived in Canterlot. Nopony ever told her why he was so great, they just said that he was a great pony, although her grandmother always said man, for some reason, whatever that meant.

"Is it really that important hun, she doesn't want to go." Lyra said, taking side with Lake. Bubble looked Lyra in the eyes with such seriousness that she took a step back. Bubble Berry always had a smile, and now it wasn't there.

"Lyra dear, this is extremly important, trust me, this my mother's wish, and the one thing she has to get done before she," he hesitated, then said, "leaves. She is quite old, she has outlived all her best friends." A look of comprehension took over Lyra's face and she nodded.

"Lilly, come on, we're going." Lyra said, now stepping out the door, followed by Bubble Berry. Then finally, a relctant Lake Lilly. they went to the train station and her grandmother, Pinkamina Diane Pie, was already there, waiting for her. The mare had aged with a both grace, and beauty, but her age was showing slightly on her face. The old mare's smile grew even wider as it spotted Lake Lilly and her parents, Lilly forced a smile as they walked forward, Pinkie hugged Bubble Berry, then Lyra, then finally she stopped at Lake Lilly, and frowned. Causing Lake Lilly to gain a confused look.

"My little Lake Lilly, you look like you don't wish to be here. Did your father force you to come? If htis is a bad time for you, I know how busy a filly without a cutie mark can be. Bubble Berry why would you make her come here if she didn't want to? I'm not that important anymore." Pinkie said, looking sternly at Bubble Berry

"Oh come on grandma, of course you are important, at least to me!" Lake Lilly said, giving a genuine smile. Her grandmother smiled back.

"Well okie dokie lokie! let's get going!" Pinkie said, hugging her grandchild. "I'll have her back tomorrow." Pinkie said as they both boarded the train. Bubble Berry and Lyra waved goodbye as the train chugged away. Lake Lilly pressed her face against the window as she saw her parents dissapear into the backround. She turned and looke across the box they were in to Pinkie Pie, who gazed out the window, looking deep in thought, a happy smile playing at her lips, as a single tear streaked down her face.

"Grandma, what's wrong?" Lilly asked.

"Guess my age Lilly, go ahead and guess."

"I don't know, uh, sixty at the most, forty at the least." Lilly said.

"I'm sixty two. I don't have much time left, and trying to keep everybody happy is harder on me then it used to be." Pinkie said, her smile fading. "I'm old Lilly. I can feel it when I move, see it when I look in a mirror, and remember it when I visit my friends' graves. there is a story that needs to be told, that nopony alive, save for me, your father, and the princesses know. Even the princesses don't the complete story, the story of your grandfather, and how I met him, his name was Alexander. Ah, but you don't want to hear me ramble about that right now, you do what you want." Pinkie said, her smile returning at the last moment.

"No, I'm intrigued, go on!" Lilly said, Pinkie shrugged and nodded.

"Alright, I remember the day I met him like it was yesterday, I was young back then, younger than you mother is now. Let's see, it was a day where there was a scheduled rainstorm, and a nasty one to, um, lets see here I remember having to bunker down away from Sugarcube Corner, the place I lived..."