Mr. and Mrs. Cake had overheard a bit of a ruckus going on in the business part of their home. This brought the proud parents to come down towards the desk where Pinkie Pie was now lying on the floor against the front of the counter as she tried to hold back the sound of her crying with the pacifier.
“Pinkie…?” asked Mr. Cake. “Aren’t you supposed to be enjoying your slumber party downstairs?”
Pinkie allowed the pacifier to slip out of her mouth.
“I was,” she sniffled. “But my mom and dad came by and said I was a disgrace to the family for, well, this.”
Pinkie gestured to her foalish attire and returned to sobbing.
“There-there, deary,” comforted Mrs. Cake. “I’m sure they don’t really mean that.”
“They do,” muttered Pinkie. “Limestone was really, really mad at me, too. I don’t know if I could ever make things right without making some pony really-really unhappy with me forever-and-ever.”
“Where are your parents and Limestone now?” asked Mr. Cake. “Perhaps we can help you talk with them?”
Pinkie wiped tears from her eyes.
“They went home,” she sighed. “They don’t want to see me. They don’t approve of me. I’ve always been different and have tried so hard to make my family happy but I never feel I am able to do so. Maybe they’ll find another Pinkie Pie to replace the one they feel is so terrible.”
The Cakes could tellPinkie was distraught. However they also knew she had guests downstairs waiting for her. Guests who counted on her to help them feel good and, in their opinion, could help her feel better, too.
“Pinkie,” calmed Mrs. Cake. “Why don’t you go back downstairs to your party? Perhaps Swaddle Puff and your other little friends can help you?”
Pinkie looked up with watery eyes and a bit of snot coming out of her nose. However she did appear a bit better.
“You’re right,” she said simply. “I owe it to my friends to keep the party going. Even if I do feel super-duper sad.”
Mr. Cake offered her a tissue that she used to blow her nose.
“If you need anything, Pinkie, we’ll be back up in our room,” he said.
“We’re always here for you, Pinkie,” assured Mrs. Cake.
Pinkie hugged both of the Cakes before heading back downstairs.
***
Every pony in the foaled-out party planning cave had become worried with each passing moment Pinkie Pie was absent.
“Do you think something bad happened?” asked a stallion guest as he nervously fidgeted with a plush caterpillar.
Dr. Dummy saw this as a chance to bring every pony together.
“Now, every pony,” he said confidently. “We all know the fear we live with knowing that we could be misjudged for how we escape our day-to-day struggles. We must stay strong in our belief in what ‘foal therapy’ can do and truly represents. So, when Pinkie Pie does return, make sure to show her how we are a family of caring ponies who stand by love, acceptance, and how being vulnerable does not make us weak.”
The guests all appeared very determined just before Pinkie came flying down the slide.
“Hey, Pinkie!” gleed Gemstone Bangle with a massive hug. “We missed you!”
Pinkie felt herself feel better from her old friend, who would sometimes go by the name of Cooing Cuddles, embrace her so warmly. How could being an adult foal be so bad when you got so much love and support from those who enjoyed being this way to just feel better despite the troubles they may have, or had, in their lives?
“We got the balloons ready!” gleed Swaddle Puff while waddling forward. Between his front hooves and back hooves were inflated balloons designed to better simulate a foal-like waddle. Wearing diapers did help but Dr. Dummy figured out how a balloon could simulate that true feeling of playfully learning to trot.
“We also used the helium!” cheered another party guest as she breathed in one of the extra balloons. This made her voice high pitched as she stated, “Now we really sound like foals!”
Pinkie couldn’t help but smile.
“So…,” she said with lifting spirits. “Is every pony ready for the great waddle race?”
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Cooing Cuddles ran off and grabbed a balloon. She then inhaled some of the helium from it before passing it over to Pinkie, also known as Silly Filly in the group, to make her voice sound youthful and silly.
“No worries!” giggled Cooing Cuddleswhile helping Silly Filly get the baloons between her legs. “All fun!”
“Right,” giggled Pinkie. “Let’s play!”
The ‘foals’ went about their party game as some of the other guests used toy pianos and xylophones to make music for the game. Some even took advantage of the pots and pans to drum a beat that got all the players excited and into the spirit that the party was truly intended to have.
“Hmm,” thought Dr. Dummy while observing the way every pony was able to forget the tense moment from before. “This is certainly the sort of positive I had hoped from starting the Milk Bar and D&N. However I definitely need to make sure some guests stick around to make sure that Pinkie is okay after foal time is over.”
“I volunteer,” replied Swaddle Puff. He had been close enough to hear Dr. Dummy’s outspoken observations. “It’s the least we can do. Truly, if not for Pinkie Pie, I wouldn’t feel as good as I do living here in Ponyville.”
“Thanks, Swaddle,” stated Dr. Dummy as he brought Swaddle Puff in for a hug. “It’s the love we show for each other both in, and out, of our safe places that truly defines what being ‘littles’ is all about.”
Swaddle Puff cooed before deciding he was in need of a drink. Fortunately an assortment of bottles and sippy cups were all being managed by the cow from the Milk Bar who was always ready to serve.
“Don’t drink too much, deary,” she noted. “The feed and burp contest is coming up and I want to see you win.”
Swaddle smiled as he watched ‘Silly Filly’, Pinkie Pie, getting back into the spirit of the party.
“No worries,” he assured. “Being able to be here with every pony already makes me a winner. Especially knowing I can be there for our friends in the most troubling of times.”
***
Pinkie continued to enjoy her party that was filled with plushie fort fights, ball rolling contests, mud pie making, and a wet diaper competition that was designed to use a hose to fill the diapers of those playing to maximum capacity before they had to try and walk an obstacle course before their heavy padding fell off. It was all fun and even soothing when the caretakers from the D&N read them bedtimes stories while they all cuddled on little cots with pillows and stuffed animals before turning on the night lights. However, try as she might, she couldn’t shake what her mom, dad, and Limestone had said and was eager to do something about it first thing in the morning. Even if that meant heading all the way to the rock farm to do so.