-PINKIE PIE-
Sweat beat down my brow as I stepped into the arena, sizing up my opponent on the other side. He was a dark-brown skinned boy, looked only a few years younger than me, with red hair and one of those super cool propeller beanies. He was cute… but that just meant he was trouble!
I looked to my left and saw my good friends Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle cheering me on from the stands. As much as I appreciated their support, this duel was something I had to do on my own… a burden nobody else could carry but me.
But as I watched my opponent prepare his Duel Disk, I couldn’t help but notice one small thing… he was super goshdang cute!!! I could tell he was a new player cuz the way he was fuddling about with his cards reminded me exactly of how I used to be! So nervous!
“Have fun!” I said cheerfully, hoping to make him feel a little more comfortable. Judging by his smile and salute, I’d say I succeeded!
DUEL!
Pinkie Pie vs. Button Mash!
I drew my five cards to start the duel. They were good cards… I mean, I didn’t put any ‘bad’ cards in my deck, that would just be silly. Ahem, my point is… I needed to start this match off on the right foot.
“I summon Performapal Salutiger!” I exclaimed, summoning my mighty beast. He was a bipedal tiger… and he was saluting. He wore a soldier’s uniform (which was super cute! It had big tassel-y shoulder pads and he had a big tall red hat and a bunch of medals on him and pointy shoes and… eh never mind, I’m getting off track). Point is, with his 1700 ATK I was hoping he could stand up to whatever my opponent played on their turn.
Button Mash drew a card and studied each card in his hand intensively, no doubt rigorously thinking through strategies in his head. “I play a monster in face-down defense mode and two face-down cards.” He said, his voice soft, yet cool and confident at the same time. “Then I’ll activate Gravekeeper’s Servant. Now I give you back the floor, Pinkie.” Gravekeeper’s Servant, an interesting choice. A continuous Spell card that forced me to discard the top card of my deck every time my monsters declared an attack. Interesting.
“I’ll summon Performapal Handsome Liger!” I said with conviction. But before my monster could even hit the field, it immediately plummeted into a hole and was destroyed. Button Mash activated one of his face-down cards.
“My Bottomless Trap Hole destroys your monster as soon as it’s summoned.” He said with a coy smirk. Not bad, but now he only had one face-down card left. “Not only that, but I activate my Coffin Seller! From now on, as long as this Trap card is face-up on the field, you’ll lose 300 Life Points every time one or more of your monsters goes to the graveyard!” Ah, now I see. Using Coffin Seller and Gravekeeper’s Servant he plans to punish my attacks and take me out with chip damage! Well I’m not afraid of that!
“Then I guess I’ll just have to go on the offensive!” I thrust my fist forward to show how not afraid I was! “Salutiger, attack that defense monster!” After I discarded the top card of my deck thanks to Gravekeeper’s Servant (thankfully it wasn’t a monster!), my tiger slashed through Button Mash’s pitiful protector with his powerful paws and pummeled it into paste. However, it looked like that was Button Mash’s plan in the first place!
“When you destroyed my Danipon,” Button Mash said haughtily “its effect allows me to add one Insect-Type Monster with 1500 or less DEF from my deck to my hand, and I choose Aztekipede, the Worm Warrior!”
“Not bad, Button Mash. But my monster has an effect too!” I said proudly, pounding myself on the chest. “I can add a Performapal Monster from my deck to my hand, as long as it’s a Pendulum Monster! And I choose…” I looked through my deck of delightful darlings to find the perfect Performapal to power up my position. “Performapal Lizardraw!” And with that, I ended my turn, confident that my crew could stem the tide of my opponent’s assault!
“Now it’s my turn…” Button Mash said serenely, a sinister smirk sneaking on his… face. I ran out of alliteration… but only for now! “And I banish the Danipon from my graveyard to Special Summon Aztekipede, the Worm Warrior!” Aztekipede was a super cool blue and green centipede monster with giant teeth ready to chomp down on my unsuspecting monsters! “Not only that, but I’ll use my Normal Summon for this turn to summon Armored Bee!” Armored Bee was… well he was really just a big bee with a metal coat on his wings and face and stuff. Pretty self-explanatory, really.
“Ok, so what’s your big scary bug army gonna do?” I asked teasingly, measuring up the opposing forces. I may have been acting cavalier but Aztekipede’s 1900 ATK was gonna tear right through my tiger, leaving me wide open to the 1600 ATK of Armored Bee.
“My Armored Bee’s effect!” Button Mash declared, outstretching his hand to convey his confidence. “It cuts the ATK of your Salutiger in half!” I couldn’t help but think to myself at a time like this… that this was really bad! “Aztekipede, attack Salutiger!” Button Mash’s Worm Warrior wound its way to my worried tiger, wrapping it in its terrifying tail and chomping down with its mesmerizing mandibles, destroying my funny feline (and also reducing my Life Points from 4000 to 2950). “And don’t forget about the effect of my Coffin Seller, now that your monster’s in the graveyard!” (Make that 2650).
“Is that all ya got?!” I stuck out my tongue and pulled down on my eyelid to show my bold buoyant brazenness. But as it turns out, nope! That was not all he’d got!
“No actually.” Button Mash said coolly, flicking his hair back. “My Aztekipede sends the top card of your deck to the graveyard whenever its attack deals damage to you.” Not good! I sent the top card of my deck to the graveyard and cringed when I saw it was Performapal Momoncarpet, a monster, and took another 300 damage from Coffin Seller (leaving me at 2350). “Not only that, but my Armored Bee can now attack you directly!”
Button’s buzzing beast came at me with the speed of a sonic boom! Its insidious incision into my abdomen with its sinister spear making me groan in agony (after all, when you’re really invested in a game with lifelike holograms, sometimes it can feel a little too real) and reducing my Life Points to a mere 750! But no need to worry! Pinkie Pie wasn’t about to lose to a bunch of bugs! “And after I set one more card, now it’s your turn.” Button Mash said, bowing graciously as he passed the baton.
“Alright! My turn! Time for Pinkie Pie’s patented powerful comeback of power!” I clamored as I drew Bubble Barrier, a really good card. “And I’m gonna set up something really nifty! With my Scale 1 Performapal Gumgumouton and my Scale 6 Performapal Lizardraw, I set the Pendulum!” My amazing monsters appeared in columns of light beside me, Gumgumouton (a super silly stack of sleepy sheepies whose fleece were made up of gummy gumdrops!) was on my left and Lizardraw (a super dapper orange lizard with a top hat!) on my right.
Even though they were Monsters, because they were Pendulums I could put them on my Pendulum Zones as Spell cards and as long as I controlled them both, I could Special Summon monsters from my hand whose Levels were between their Scales, in this case I could summon monsters from Levels 2-5!
“So you finally played your Pendulum cards.” Button Mash said with a grin. He was up to something, and I suddenly had a bad feeling about his face-down card. Oh well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
“I’ll Pendulum Summon my Performapals Bowhopper and Secondonkey!” No sooner do my grand grasshopper and dandy donkey appear on the field in a blaze of glory are they snuffed out by a sudden strike of lightning, evaporating the two beasts before my very eyes, leaving me staring, mouth agape, in stunned silence.
“I’m afraid you won’t be Pendulum Summoning just yet.” Button Mash laughed heartily, looking over the smoking ruins of my monster-free field with pride and amusement. “My Solemn Warning Trap card negates your summon and destroys your Monsters, albeit at the cost of 2000 Life Points. But I think it’s worth it, especially since your monsters are sent to the graveyard and you take another 300 damage.” That maneuver left Button Mash’s Life at 2000 and mine at 450.
“This duel isn’t over just yet!” I was talking pretty big but I had to be careful how I played this next move. One wrong card and I was a gonner. I couldn’t afford for even two more monsters to go to the graveyard or else it was game over! Fortunately, I had a plan! “I’ll summon a monster in face-down defense, and I’ll further that defensiveness with my awesome Bubble Barrier!” How could you not love Bubble Barrier? It was a protective shield… made of bubbles! So rad! Plus, it kept all my Performapal Monsters safe from harm once per turn as long as it stayed on the field! “Your turn!”
“If you think strengthening your defenses will save you, I’m sorry to say you’re mistaken.” Button Mash said with a grin. He was confident, and rightfully so. Anyone watching would say he had the advantage… but I was determined to win this!
“I Tribute my Armored Bee, sending it to the graveyard in order to summon Saber Beetle!” Button Mash’s Bee turned into a shiny ball of light and made way for a big scary beetle with a MASSIVE horn on its shield-like head that glowed with white lightning (plus it had a whopping 2400 ATK!). “Not only that, but after I activate my Foolish Burial to send a Monster from my deck to the graveyard, I can banish the two Insect Monsters in my graveyard to summon Doom Dozer!” Doom Dozer was another centipede creature. It looked just like Aztekipede only it was black and red, and also way bigger and nastier, complete with 2800 ATK. “How do you feel, Pinkie? Are you prepared to lose?”
“Nope! Not at all actually!” I said with a cheerful wink. “If you think your big bad bugs can take me down, then go ahead and try! I’m ready to turn this thing around!”
“I like your bluster, Pinkie.” Button Mash said with a laugh. “But this duel is over! Saber Beetle’s Effect allows it to deal Battle Damage even when attacking a defense monster! Saber Beetle, attack her face-down card!”
Saber Beetle charged furiously at my mysterious defense monster, ramming its lightning horn straight into the card, only to be stopped by a barrage of bouncing bubbles.
“Sorry, Button Mash!” I started giggling and even snorted as the Bubble Barrier came into play, covering my field with a wall of star-filled bubbles. “My Bubble Barrier protects my Performapals once per turn from battle, which means I’m safe! Not only that, but I don’t take any damage from battles involving my Performapals as long as it’s there!”
“Not bad, Pinkie.” Button Mash said with a proud smile, but I could tell he was a little mad. Even though I defended myself this time, my defending monster, Performapal Parrotrio, was now revealed and as cute as a trio of bowtie-clad singing birds was, their 500 DEF wasn’t gonna hold up to Button Mash’s other two monsters. “Alright Aztekipede, now it’s your turn!”
Button Mash’s Aztekipede charged my Parrotrio but were once again deterred, this time by a big delicious gummy shield!
“Sorry again, Button Mash!” I couldn’t stop laughing as my silly defenses kept getting in the way of Button Mash’s attacks! “My Gumgumouton’s Pendulum Effect allows me to save one of my monsters from battle one per turn!” The cool thing about Pendulum Monsters is that they have super unique Effects while they’re acting as monsters or when they’re acting as Spell cards! So good!
“That may be, but now you’ve run out of defensive tricks!” Button Mash said with a sneer! He was getting serious now! “Doom Dozer, attack those birds!”
Doom Dozer’s attack succeeded, tearing through my party of parrots in no time with its vicious jaws. That said, I still had the upper hand.
“Good news, everyone!” I said, addressing the crowd. “I don’t take any damage from Coffin Seller, since my Parrotrio was a Pendulum Monster! Pendulum Monsters are put face-up in the Extra Deck when they’re destroyed instead of going to the graveyard!”
“I think we all know how Pendulums work, Pinkie!” Twilight said from the stands.
“Actually, I appreciate the explanation.” Fluttershy responded. I heard Twilight sigh but the two girls made me laugh.
“But not only that, Parrotrio’s Effect activates when it’s destroyed by battle, allowing me to Special Summon a non-Pendulum Performapal Monster from my deck! And I choose Longphone Bull!” Longphone Bull was a goofy blue minotaur dressed like a hotel bellhop with a big telephone on his head where horns should be (what a cutie!) “Longphone Bull’s Effect also allows me to add another non-Pendulum Performapal from my deck to my hand, and I choose Stamp Turtle!” I said, waving the card around to show Button Mash and the audience.
“I guess my turn is finished.” Button Mash shrugged. “I’m impressed by how you weathered my attacks, Pinkie, but do you honestly think that a turtle and a telephone can defeat my awesome army of bugs?”
“Yup!” I nodded happily, Button Mash letting out a quick laugh.
“I’m eager to see it.” Button Mash said with a polite smile.
“I’ll be happy to show you! And to do that, I’ll start by summoning my Stamp Turtle!” Stamp Turtle was a cute little old man turtle clad in a bowtie and tophat, holding a stampy thingy! “His Effect allows me to raise the levels of two of my Monsters by one, turning my Level 4 Longphone Bull and Stamp Turtle into level 5 Monsters! And you know what that means!”
“Xyz Summon…” Button Mash said under his breath, the unease and dread in his voice a clear sign that he knew he was about to lose.
“That’s right!” I turned to the crowd, my arms open wide. “Ladies! And! Gentlemen! Please witness the amazing, spectacular, super terrific grand finale I’m about to show you today!”
“This is only the first duel of the day!” Some naysayer yelled back from the audience, but I decided to politely ignore him.
“Using my Level 5 Monsters, I’ll open the Overlay Network!” I clenched my hand into a fist and punched toward my monsters. “Longphone Bull! Stamp Turtle! Overlay! Using these monsters I’ll Xyz Summon the awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, totally fantasticariffic… Volcasaurus!”
Volcasaurus… one of my ace Monsters. He was a big scary red dinosaur with gold armor and massive claws, covered in glowing orange magma spikes and lava bursting forth from his maw. He was an Xyz Monster, which meant the two monsters used as his Summoning Materials are attached to him as Energy cards, and I can detach them and send them to the graveyard to activate his powerful Effect!
“I’ll detach one Energy card from Volcasaurus to use his Effect!” When I detach an Energy card it goes to the graveyard, which meant I took another 300 damage from Coffin Seller, but that still left me with 150 Life! Like a real hero! “I can target one of Button Mash’s big scary bug Monsters and Volcasaurus will destroy it, inflicting damage to him equal to that monster’s ATK!”
“That’s… not good.” Button Mash said with dismay, realizing that his Doom Dozer had more ATK than he had Life.
“No sir, it definitely is not!” I said with a beaming smile as I snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! And feet don’t even have jaws! Unless you’re holding a copy of the movie Jaws in your feet but that’d be silly cuz you could just hold it with your hands! “Volcasaurus, let’s win this thang!” Volcasaurus opened his monstrous maw and shot forth a giant ball of molten magma, obliterating Doom Dozer with a single hit in a fiery explosion that wiped Button Mash’s Life Points right down to 0!
“The winner is Pinkie Pie!” The announcer yelled, filling me with joy and pride and other awesome feelings!
“Good game, Pinkie.” Button Mash said, shaking my hand.
“You too! That was a real close one!” I happily replied.
“Good luck in the rest of the tournament.” Button Mash said as he headed out of the arena.
“Thank you so much!” I said as I waved goodbye to him.
That was a real nailbiter… but I did it! I hoped the rest of the crowd got as worked up as I did, but either way I felt super proud of myself!
****
-TWILIGHT SPARKLE-
“Well done, Pinkie.” I congratulated Pinkie Pie as Fluttershy and I approached her while she was exiting the arena. “That was a good match.”
“Did you see me cheering you on?” Fluttershy asked bashfully, clasping her hands together in front of her. “I was cheering very quietly, but very passionately!”
“I did see you, and I appreciate it.” Pinkie said, wrapping her arm around Fluttershy and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “And thanks, Twilight. I think that duel really got the crowd pumped up at the end! A perfect test of my Entertainment Dueling specialty!”
“Pinkie…” I looked around at the crowd, some of whom were chatting amongst themselves and looked pretty excited but most were just on cell phones or talking with each other while looking kinda bored. “I’m not sure that Entertainment Dueling is going to become a thing.”
“You bite your tongue, Twilight Sparkle!” Pinkie stuck out her tongue playfully and pointed her finger dramatically right at my nose.
“I’m just saying, I still don’t exactly know what makes ‘Entertainment Dueling’ different than regular dueling.” I continued.
“Twilight…” Fluttershy nagged me, gently tugging on the sleeve of my sweater.
“Like, aren’t duels supposed to be entertaining on their own?” I proclaimed. “So how is ‘Entertainment Dueling’ supposed to work?”
“It’s still a work in progress.” Pinkie smiled nervously and I could tell her posture had stiffened some but I elected to ignore that because I am a brain genius. “But, it’s something that I’m gonna make and popularize and everyone’s gonna love it! Just you wait and see!”
“I’m just not sure I see any future in it is all.” I shrugged.
“Twilight…” Fluttershy implored, her tugging at my sleeve getting a little more forceful.
“And after all, you don’t exactly have the best record of follow-through on your big grand ideas.” I rambled. “Remember when you were gonna run a hotdog cart? Or make a rap album? Or open a coffee bar to write screenplays in?”
“Twilight!” Fluttershy’s frantic shout immediately caught my attention with a jolt. Whenever Fluttershy raised her voice you knew the situation was serious. I turned to look at her and I could see her normally peaceful eyes glaring at me harshly. I wasn’t sure why she was suddenly mad until I turned back to look at Pinkie, who was shaking with her fists clenched and looking on the verge of tears, and suddenly I realized the immense insensitivity of my words and my own callousness hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Pinkie, I’m-” Before I could apologize I was cut off by Pinkie.
“I’m sorry we can’t all be as talented as you, Twilight!” She blubbered, wiping away tears that were rapidly filling her eyes. “I’m sorry that some of us have a hard time figuring out what we wanna do in life and that I like to follow whims and stuff and that that makes me a big fat failure!” Pinkie ran off, sobbing heavily while her eyes gushed like broken fire hydrants.
“I-I… I didn’t mean to…” I stuttered, completely taken aback. I had no idea that Pinkie felt that strongly about her failed projects.
“Twilight, you should know better.” Fluttershy’s voice was soft but stern and I couldn’t deny the truth in her words. “Pinkie’s just as sensitive as I am, in her own way.” With that, Fluttershy ran off to chase down Pinkie and make sure she was okay. I stayed behind because I felt that Pinkie might not want to see me right now, and honestly I had no idea what I could’ve said to make her feel better even if she did.
I just stumbled around the bookstore for a few moments before sitting down in a plush chair that was located in a seating area that was nooked into a corner away from the arena. Seeing Pinkie Pie cry was hard enough but making her cry was heartbreaking. I started to feel fire in my stomach and a poison wind in my throat, the onset of one of those ‘I can’t believe I just did that, I wish I was dead’ anxiety attacks.
My brain was burning with guilt and shame and pain and I was starting to quietly hyperventilate, tapping the arm of my chair furiously out of habit. I started to worry that Pinkie might not want to be my friend anymore, or that Fluttershy wouldn’t either, and even worse I started to think maybe that’s what I deserved.
I knew there was only one thing I could do, the only thing I could ever think of to do that helped me in the midst of an anxiety attack. I got out my phone and I texted Applejack.
****
-PINKIE PIE-
“Are you okay, Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, knocking on the door of the bathroom stall I’d barricaded myself inside to cry my eyes out. “Can I come in?”
“Oh yeah, I’m great.” I sputtered through my sobs. “It always feels good to be reminded by one of your best friends that you’re a complete failure! And yeah, you can come in.”
“Um, okay.” Fluttershy noticed that I hadn’t actually unlocked the door for her, but I didn’t notice! So she got on the ground and crawled under the stall. She looked pretty funny as she struggled to get through the gab in the door, which was just big enough for her to fit through, but not big enough for her to like really fit through, and that gave me a good laugh that I needed, which I think she realized because she ended up laughing too as I helped her get inside the stall.
“You’re not a total failure, Pinkie.” Fluttershy took my hand and gently caressed it. “You’re passionate, kind, optimistic, a good friend and a joy to be around. You follow the things that excite you with unwavering enthusiasm and you don’t let obstacles stop you from pursuing the things you care about. I think that’s amazing.”
“Y-you do?” I sniveled, looking into Fluttershy’s eyes and wiping tears out of my own. “You don’t think that I’m like… pathetic?”
“Not at all.” Fluttershy shook her head with a smile on her face, putting her hand on my cheek. “I don’t have a lot to be proud of in my own life, and seeing you doggedly chase after the things that mean a lot to you… it inspires me. It gives me hope, makes me think that maybe it’s not too late for me to pursue my own dreams.”
I could feel like my heart was being squeezed in a big bear hug by all Fluttershy’s kind words and I couldn’t stop the monsoon of tears pouring out of my face, or the big heaving sobs, and I pounced on Fluttershy with a big spine-breaking hug, tackling her to the floor.
“Take it from someone who knows, Pinkie…” Fluttershy said, her voice strained by me crushing her windpipe, but thankfully I realized that I was doing it this time and I let her go with an embarrassed smile. “You’re not a failure, Pinkie. You’re amazing. You are so much more than just your setbacks.”
“So are you, Fluttershy!” I said emphatically, embracing Flutters in another hug. Then I stood to my feet, dragging Fluttershy up with me, and said “I know you have the courage and strength to follow your dreams, because I’ve seen the depth of compassion and nobleness that’s in your heart!”
Fluttershy smiled the sweetest little Fluttershy smile I’d ever seen and her cheeks turned bright pink.
“And honestly,” I was on a roll so I just kept going “if you think that I’m great and all that other super nice stuff you said, it’s only because I have the amazing support of my friends! Without you guys… I dunno where I’d be! Certainly not following my passions so zealously, that’s for sure!” I paused to take a quick breath, and I noticed that Fluttershy was getting a little misty-eyed too, and I sure hoped they were happy tears! “That’s why it hurt my feelings so much when Twilight said all that stuff about me… cuz it’s only thanks to you guys that I have the excitement to keep going after all these crazy ideas that I love so much, so to hear her say that…” I started choking up again.
“Twilight does support you, Pinkie.” Fluttershy said, looking me in the eye for like half a second before she had to avert her gaze cuz, y’know, she’s Fluttershy. “She didn’t mean to be mean to you and she doesn’t think that you’re stupid or a failure, she just sometimes says things without realizing that they may be insensitive. She works real hard at making sure she thinks about her words before saying them, but sometimes she still messes up, like we all do sometimes. I didn’t have time to talk to her because I wanted to make sure you were okay first, but I could see in her face that she was really upset that she made you cry.”
“That’s not good!” I said with a start.
“It’s not?” Fluttershy tilted her head in confusion.
“No! If she’s upset than we’d better go find her and put a smile on her face, like you did for me!”
“I’m glad you say that, I was worried you’d still be mad at Twilight.” Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief.
“Why would I be mad at Twilight?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“It doesn’t matter.” Fluttershy laughed, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Then let’s go make some amends happen!” I tried to kick the door to the bathroom stall open but it was still locked so all I did was really hurt my foot. I gently unhinged the lock and then tapped the door open with my non-hurt foot, pretending that I kicked it open super dramatically and cool-like. “Tally ho!”
****
-TWILIGHT SPARKLE-
As I hover above my phone getting ready to text Applejack, I’m struck by a resounding question.
What do I even say?
“Hey AJ how’re you doing I made Pinkie cry and I’m a horrible person and a horrible friend and I wish I could just crawl into a cave and wither away to nothing! Have a nice day!”
… no, that won’t work at all.
I shook my head vigorously, trying to think of anything better to say but I couldn’t stop thinking about Pinkie’s face, her eyes full of tears, and how it was all my fault. I didn’t mean to make her cry, I didn’t know she was so sensitive about her failed projects.
But why didn’t I know? I’m supposed to be her friend. I should know what’s going to hurt her feelings! But how could I have known? It was basic common sense, obviously! How could I be so stupid? Have I said other things to my friends that have hurt their feelings? Have I accidentally been a jerk to all of my friends? Are they really even my friends or are they all just humoring me because they hate me and are waiting for the opportunity to humiliate me?!
I took a loud wheezing gasp of air, releasing it with a small strained chuckle as I realized my hysterics had drawn the attention of a few of the fellow bookstore patrons.
I needed Applejack’s help but I didn’t know what to say to her so I just texted her a single word.
“APPLEJACK”
Was that good enough? Was that a stupid thing to text her? Is she going to see that? Is she going to know I need help? Is she going to care? What if she’s having a bad day? I shouldn’t be burdening her with my nonsense! Oh no, what if she’s completely miserable and my trying to nag her for help is what pushes her over the edge into some kind of regrettable decision she can’t take back? I can’t ask her for help! I just need to suck it up and face the fact that I have no friends and everyone hates me and I should find that cave to live in and-
Breathe.
I hear my mentor’s voice in my head. It soothes me. I take a deep breath, slowly… in through the nose… and out through the mouth. I’m feeling a little bit calmer now… but I still jump with a yelp as I hear my phone buzz.
Applejack responded to my text, saying “What’s up Twi? How ya doin?”
“I’m not doing so great.” My hands were shaking as I sent my reply. “I made Pinkie cry.” I tended to be a pretty blunt person, I didn’t really get pleasantries all that well, so I just decided to tell Applejack outright why I was texting her, get it out in the open quickly, like a pulling off a bandage.
“How’d ya do that?” She said. “Ya must’ve done something pretty bad to make PINKIE cry!”
“Thanks.” Even though I knew she couldn’t see me, I scowled at Applejack through the phone and I realized that I was squeezing it hard enough to hurt my palms.
Before I could finish texting my actual response, Applejack sent back a quick “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I quickly sent back. “Thank you.” I took another deep breath to get my thoughts in order so I could compose a decent reply. “Anyway, you know this whole ‘entertainment dueling’ thing Pinkie’s trying out? I maaaay have told her I didn’t think it would go anywhere.”
“Aw, Twilight.” I could practically see the facepalm Applejack made as she sent that text. “Why for?”
“I didn’t know it was so important to her.” I stood up and started pacing around the recreation area. No one else was really around, in nearby isles maybe but not in the sitting area itself, so I wouldn’t be bothering anyone. “And it’s not exactly taking off, so I guess I just don’t want her to get her hopes up too high and then be disappointed when it doesn’t go anywhere.”
“Twilight, take it from someone who knows.” I could hear Applejack’s voice, stern but supportive, in my head as I read her texts. “When ur startin out on any kinda project the only things keepin ya goin are ur hopes and the support of ur friends. You sayin you don’t think it’s gonna go anywhere robs Pinkie of both those things.”
“I know.” I groaned wearily and planted my head against the wall as I thought about what to say next. “I mean, I didn’t *know* but I knew that I made a huge mistake saying those things as soon as I saw Pinkie start to cry.”
“Ur a real detective! ;P” Applejack responded.
“Again, thanks. :p” I admit, Applejack’s words made me laugh a little. “I just didn’t understand *why* it was such a big deal to her, but that’s not really what matters, is it?”
“Not really.” AJ said. “When ur friends have stuff in their lives they’re excited about, it’s important to support ‘em, even if you don’t quite understand what’s so excitin urself. But here’s the thing, Twi. I think ur already at that point. I mean, you believe in Pinkie don’t ya?”
“Of course!” I said aloud as I typed it to Applejack.
“I thought so!” AJ said. “So in that case, just say ur sorry for hurtin her feelings. Tell her all the stuff ya told me and remind her that even when you don’t understand her she’ll always be ur friend and have ur support. And then y’know actually support her!”
“I think I can manage that.” I laughed softly and wiped some tears from my eyes, I didn’t even notice that I’d started crying.
“I know ya can, Twi!” AJ replied. “Cuz here’s the thing, I know ur actually a real good friend. Just take my word on this one.”
“I can do that.” I closed my eyes and breathed deeply for a few moments before sending another text, just letting the tears stream down my cheeks. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an apology I need to go make.”
“You do it, Twilight!” AJ said. “Have a great day!”
“Thanks, you too.” And with that, I closed my phone and put it away.
I really did feel better after talking with Applejack, even though she sassed me a bit… actually, I think it’s partly because she sassed me that I felt better. That was something I really admired about her, she always told you what you needed to hear, even if it wasn’t always what you wanted to hear.
As for me, I needed to find Pinkie Pie and make things right. I needed to make sure she knew how important she was to me, and how much I valued our friendship. I was never very good at apologies. Admitting to others that I was in the wrong, that I didn’t know better… it was hard. I had a lot invested in always being the smartest person in the room and when that bubble was burst it was easy for my anxiety to drag me into a downward spiral… but if swallowing my pride was what needed to happen for Pinkie Pie to know that I valued her, then I needed to do it! Anything for my friends!
****
-PINKIE PIE-
When Fluttershy and I got out of the bathroom we saw Twilight headed for that same bathroom at a pretty brisk pace! What are the odds? Anyway, she perked up when she saw us, like anybody would seeing me and\or Fluttershy, and ran over to us, grabbing me by the hands.
“Pinkie I’m so sorry about that stuff I said earlier!” She said frantically, bowing her head. “Just because I don’t understand what you’re trying to do with your Entertainment Dueling doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be supportive! You’re my friend and I care about you and I want you to know that I’m sorry for being an insensitive jerk and not realizing that I was.”
A second passed and I looked at Fluttershy for a second before bursting out laughing, Twilight taking a step back from me and looking at me with blushing cheeks and a puzzled scowl on her face.
“Sorry Twilight, I don’t mean to laugh,” I said through my giggles “but you’re laying it on a little thick, don’tcha think? Of course I forgive you!” I embraced Twilight in a big hug, which she happily reciprocated.
“Thanks… Pinkie…” She said, wiping tears from her face. “So you really forgive me? Even though I said that hurtful stuff?”
“Of course! You’re my friend, duh!” I giggled and smiled like a big goof, but then I got a little moody and I looked away from Twilight. “But I’ll be honest, it does kinda hurt my feelings that you don’t think I can make Entertainment Dueling a success.”
“I don’t think that, Pinkie.” Twilight said earnestly, grabbing my forearms and looking into my eyes, which was pretty neato, because Twilight’s beautiful violet eyes were really pretty to look at and it was a rare treat for her to make eye contact! “I can’t pretend like I understand what Entertainment Dueling is supposed to be, but I do understand you, Pinkie! I know that you’re resourceful, clever, smart, determined and creative! I have complete faith that whatever it is that you really want to do, that you’ll find a way to do it! And no matter what that is, as your friend I want to support you!”
“Even after all the stuff I’ve never been able to work?” I forced a modest smile on my face, even though thinking about all of my failures didn’t really make me feel like smiling.
“Yes, Pinkie.” Twilight said, her own smile shining beautifully. “You’re more than just your setbacks. Everything that you’ve failed to do has taught you and prepared you to chase your next dream, and even if you fail you’ll always get back up again, and that’s something that I find unbelievably admirable. You inspire me to be better than I am, and for that I’ll always think the world of you, Pinkie Pie.”
“I couldn’t do it without the support from my friends.” My cheeks were getting all rosy as my eyes filled up with maximum tearage, my words getting all blubbery and my legs all rubbery. This called for a group hug!
“And you’ll always have my support, no matter what.” It was Twilight who embraced me in a hug this time though and I more than happily returned the favor as I started unelegantly blubbering while an ocean of happy tears spilled forth from my eyeballs! “And Pinkie, keep in mind that if I ever give you guff for not coming through on your projects, I’m in my twenties and all I’ve accomplished is being good at card games.”
“I haven’t done that much either.” Fluttershy added.
“Yay! We’re all losers!” I said with a big laugh, putting an arm around each of my friends, the two of them joining me in my giggles.
I didn’t know how to say it to Twilight cuz I didn’t want to ruin the mood, but she was selling herself too short, just like Fluttershy did. Twilight’s smart and kind and cool and beautiful and creative and just as determined as me and also smart! She had a lot going for her and to have her support for my endeavors, and to have Fluttershy’s, who was also kind and beautiful and amazing and cool, meant the world to me.
I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world to have the best friends.