//------------------------------// // Introspection // Story: The Pinkest Party // by Waxworks //------------------------------// Pinkie stayed in her room for the next three days. She began by laying on her bed and staring at the ceiling. Nothing happened and nothing changed, but she pondered. She pondered her position in life and the effect her friends had on her. Her “friends”. Was there no respect in their relationships? Did they not take her seriously? Did they think that she would accept everything they did to her without any repercussions? That she was willing to put up with them forever; ever the silent, watchful, bubbly, perky, Pinkie Pie? The happy-go-lucky pony that wouldn’t be bothered by anything? Twilight had brought Spike. Applejack hadn’t even bathed. Rarity treated her party like it was some formal function, Rainbow Dash couldn’t even be bothered to show up on time. The only one that showed some modicum of respect was Fluttershy, who had ditched Angel to come alone. Twilight hadn’t even done that. She’d been explicit in her instructions. There was no excuse. No excuse at all. Pinkie lay there, and she stared. She watched the roof do nothing for some hours, then drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, nothing had changed. She hadn’t even shifted during the time she was unconscious. She lay there again, watching the roof, until Mrs. Cake came up and knocked on the door. “Pinkie Pie, are you alright in there?” she asked. Slowly, she pulled herself to a sitting position. Her head lolled as she sat up, and she turned to the door. She stared at it dumbly until the knocking came again. She dragged her hooves out of bed and flopped off the side, then carried herself over to the door. She pulled it open, scowling at the chubby Mrs. Cake standing in it. “What.” “Oh, I was just wondering if you were doing fine, is all. You haven’t come out in a while, and the Mr. and I were getting a little worried.” “I’m fine.” She started to close the door. “Well,” Mrs. Cake said, blocking the door with a hoof. “I was taking a break for tea and wanted to know if you’d like to join me.” She smiled wide, trying to appear non-threatening. Pinkie paused, the door stuck against Mrs. Cake’s hoof. She stared at Mrs. Cake, looking her straight in the eyes, trying to figure out what the mare wanted. She was pudgy, her cheeks rosy and warm, and her eyes didn’t hold any hint of malice, but something about it felt off to her. Pinkie shook her head, telling herself it was all in her imagination, and slowly nodded. “Okay,” was all she said. Mrs. Cake’s smile widened and she beamed at Pinkie. “Well, that’s wonderful! I’ll be at the small table downstairs in the back. You know where it is. It’s away from all the customers, so it’ll just be you and me.” “Thank you,” Pinkie said. Mrs. Cake nodded and walked away, leaving Pinkie in her room. Pinkie looked around her room and stepped in front of her mirror. She looked herself over, trying to decide if she needed or wanted to do anything with her mane. It was flat and unkempt, like she had slept fitfully, though she’d woken up in the same position. She mussed it a bit, then gave up and wandered down the stairs to the small room where Mrs. Cake was waiting for her. She sat down heavily and stared at the teacup and little tea cake in front of her. Mrs. Cake was on the other side, sipping calmly at her own cup, not saying a word. The two sat in silence for a while. Mrs. Cake didn’t bring anything up, she just sat quietly, waiting for Pinkie to make the first move. She was patient, and eventually Pinkie caved in. “What is it?” Mrs. Cake relaxed at Pinkie finally saying something. She breathed out and smiled. “I was just wondering what was going on, what with you being all locked up there alone. I thought I’d invite you for some tea. Something completely unthreatening. Just wanted to spend some time with you, dearie.” Pinkie put on a smile. “Thanks.” “Tea’s nice, isn’t it? It’s a nice, calm thing you can do with friends, without any expectations except drinking tea and eating little confections, don’t you think?” “Yeah. Yeah, it is,” Pinkie said. She picked up her teacup. The tea had gone lukewarm, but she sipped it, then drank it all in one gulp. She shoved the cake in her mouth and ate it quickly, then swallowed. Mrs. Cake refilled her cup and she drank that to wash the cake down. She was feeling more energetic. “It’s a great way to find out what’s troubling somepony, and a good way to find out how they really feel. Clearing the air, don’t you know.” Pinkie smiled, but her mane remained flat on her head. “Yeah. Yeah it is. To find out how they really feel…” Mrs. Cake smiled brightly. “Feeling a bit better, Pinkie Pie?” “You know what, Mrs. Cake, I think I am. I think I’m feeling great.” She smiled wide, eyes sparkling with the beginnings of an idea. “I’m feeling better than I have in a long time. I think it’s time I really, truly, cleared the air and found out a lot of things, and tea is going to help me do that.” “Glad I could help, Pinkie. Do you need anything to help with that?” Pinkie shook her head. “You’ve already helped a lot.” Mrs. Cake smiled and nodded. “I’m glad I could, Pinkie. We’ll see you in the shop soon?” “Probably not until after I’ve sorted this all out, Mrs. Cake. Thanks again!” Mrs. Cake left with a smile on her face, leaving Pinkie to her own devices. Pinkie, meanwhile, took the opportunity to disappear down into her party cave. She grabbed a pencil and paper and began writing out a long list of instructions, grievances, problems, solutions, and many other seemingly random things. Gummy stayed in a corner and blinked. “No, Gummy. I’m going to invite them one at a time. I can’t have them all there at once because I won’t be able to focus on one of them. I need them to be separated.” Gummy blinked one eye, then the other. “Yes, I will if I have to. I’ll force them to talk to me, and we’ll figure things out.” Gummy licked his eyeballs. Pinkie stopped and looked at him in horror. “You’re right. What if they don’t? What if they won’t reconcile. What if they try to reschedule tea!” She paced in a small circle. “I can’t keep bringing them back over and over again to talk things out. We’d lose our train of thought and have to have the same conversations over and over. I think—” she looked at gummy. He yawned. “Yes. I think that is the best choice.” Gummy smacked his lips. Pinkie shook her head. “No, I think that’s as far as we need to go. They’ll quit rescheduling or ignoring me after this, don’t you worry. I’ve got everything planned out, and there’s no way it can go wrong.” She held up a large sheet of paper. It had cutesy designs on it, but in the middle was a big red X. “No way at all.”