There she was, just sitting there. The fact that she was just sitting there was weird as it is, but the fact that her mane was deflated and she was staring wistfully into her cup of steaming cocoa was only adding to the weird-factor. Sugarcube Corner was closed that day, so she had no urgent need to get a new batch of cookies out the door. Equestria was actually quiet for a change; no big bad that needed stamping out or some sort of friendship quest that needed to happen. It was any other day. Or at least it would've been if Pinkie hadn't been sitting there quietly for the past 20 minutes.
Austin stood in the doorway of his kitchen, leaning against one side as he held his own mug of cocoa, watching her. Twilight stood beside him, ears low as she looked up at him.
"I don't know what's wrong," Twilight said, sounding quite stressed, but keeping it to a dull whisper.
"Have you asked?" The human responded, never taking his eyes away from Pinkie.
"Of course I've asked! That's the first thing I did!" Twilight turned her gaze back to her pink companion, giving her a worried look. "But... she just shrugged and said that it was nothing."
"Then it's nothing." Austin sipped his cocoa while Twilight shot him a look.
"It most certainly not nothing, Austin and you know that! Pinkie's mane doesn't flatten out like that for no reason!"
"I'd argue, I'd ask how you know that for sure. But that won't get us anywhere," Austin muttered, standing up straight. "Right. I'll go talk to her."
Twilight's ears lowered a bit more as she watched Austin walk over to the table and take a seat across from her, getting Pinkie's attention. He set down his mug, leaned on the table and folded his hands in front of himself as Pinkie glanced up from her mug and gave him a sad, albeit polite, smile.
"Hey Pinkie," he said, giving her a half smile. "You've hardly touched your cocoa. I normally can't keep you out of the stuff."
"It's still too hot." Her voice sounded soft, but not choked up. "I don't want to burn myself."
"You doin' okay?"
Austin quietly stares at the pink mare for a few agonizing moments- the silence ringing in Twilight's ears as she bites her bottom lip.
"I ask because your mane... it's not as bouncy and curly as it usually is," he continues, trying to coax a response out of her. She stays quiet for a few moments longer before looking up at him and giving him a big, genuine smile- a smile of reassurance.
"Yeah... I am~" There's not a hint of sarcasm or sadness in her voice, but there's not a single ounce of the energy she normally outputs.
"That's good, that's good," Austin says with a nod, leaning back in his chair a bit and grabbing his mug with one hand, resting his opposite elbow on the back of his chair. "Pardon my french but what's the deal, then? You don't seem upset. You just don't seem like yourself, ya know?"
Pinkie gives him a nod, scooping up her mug with both hooves and taking a long sip from her cocoa. As she sets it down, she lets out a humid breath, smacking her lips together.
"I understand why you two are concerned. But I Pinkie Promise, I'm not any worse off than I usually am. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
Austin nods, noting that Pinkie didn't go through the usual range of spastic motions accompanying her vow. From corner of his eye, he can see Twilight fidgeting a bit, her violet wings readjusting themselves. Pinkie takes another sip from her mug and sighs, then gives Austin a big smile.
"I'm okay, really."
A pause. Austin was more than ready to leave it at that and send the two equines back home, but he knew Twilight wouldn't stop pressing without an explanation. Soon, the human leans back over, giving Pinkie an interrogating gaze.
"I'm noticing your word choice, Pinkie."
Another pause. Pinkie's smile becomes wider, but not bigger. A gleam shimmers across her big blue eyes, and she lets out a soft knowing giggle.
"You're... just okay, huh?"
There's a sharp gasp of realization from Twilight and Pinkie gives him a slow nod. Everything makes sense now. Pinkie's mood isn't sour. It's not even a little off. Things are just... okay.
"Yep," Austin says, leaning back again and smiling softly at her. "Sometimes you just don't want to be all uppity and everywhere... Sometimes you just want to stand back and watch the world move without you for a bit. I can respect that, and I'm sure Twilight and the gang will too."
Things become quiet in the dimly lit dining room. Twilight approaches the table and gives a calmed smile to Pinkie, who slides out of her chair. The two embrace and Austin nods again, smiling.
"Hey, if you need a minute, you need a minute, right? You take care of yourselves now."
Twilight nods, mouthing a silent thank you to him before her horn glows, and with a bright flash, the two disappear from sight. He picks up the mugs and takes them to the sink, rinsing them out and setting them into the side, then going back into the dining room, staring out into the silent house. A sigh escapes his lips as he crosses his arms, leaning against the door frame again.