(I know, This chapter can feel forced, and I'm sorry for that. I just need to break block in my mind... somehow. I think if I'll end this story... someday hopefully, I'll try to rewrite it all. Maybe.)
After breakfast with Fluttershy Pinkie Pie went back to Sugarcube Corner to explain her disappearance last night. Next step was hurtful for Pinkie, because she loved Cakes as daughter could love her parent; she was going to give them resignation and move out of her room. She was afraid that they'll see this as betrayal, as she doesn't want to be their friend or "daughter" anymore. She was trying to reassure herself somehow that it will went okay, but she couldn't. How could she if she was feeling like betraying Cakes. However, she knew that if she won't betray them, she'll betray her sister and her kind. Some vicious part of her mind tried to reason that betraying Chrysalis is okay because she was first to betray Pinkie. She drove away this thought with simple belief that Chrysalis is sorry for what she did and she is her sister.
If you can't forgive your own sister, how could you forgive anyone?
She wondered for a moment how Celestia felt when Luna turned into Nightmare Moon. How fast she forgave her little sister, how fast she realized that her sister downfall was her fault too. How hurting it was, looking to moon and realizing that you sister is far away, banished by your will, corrupted by your own neglect. Maybe, maybe if she did something different...
Pinkie shook her head. Past is past.
There is nothing that can be done about it. Only thing she can do is to forgive and ask for forgiveness. She hoped that Equestria and her friends will forgive her and her kind. Especially Twilight. She triedd to imagine future events, but after quite bleak visions of future she decided to better focus on now and there.
Her plan was simple:
One, Meet Cakes, explain them what happened yesterday. Pinkie felt slightly bad about it part, because her explanation will be bunch of lies. Well... Nothing new in her life, but now it was different. Somehow.
Two, Give Them Resignation. She couldn't figure out any lie what wouldn't hurt them, or would be convincing. Hard part, but it has to be done.
Three, Check Out Her Account. She almost never used her money. She was sure there was quite a fortune on her account, but she wasn't sure how much. Her salary wasn't much, but for young mare it was quite the cash. And Pinkie wasn't pony so she didn't had to spend this on food, and she wasn't keen for luxuries like dresses and jewelry.
Four, Meet Charming Stories, Possibly. Charming Stories, aka Chrysalis, was going to make a few short trips to Ponyville to observe ponies, and get used to being among them. Hard lesson for Changeling Queen, and Pinkie decided she won't make it harder by throwing her Welcome To Ponyville Party!, Chrysalis will tell her when she was ready.
Five, Ask Twilight About Charging Gems With Emotions While Being Incognito. Simple, change into unicorn, and posing as young scholar ask her about that kind of magic, and if it is possible, ask if could she learn her how to do it. It could be solution to sending love to other camps.
Six, Buy All The Apples! Apples from Sweet Apple Acres were indeed grew with love. Pinkie felt it, and she discovered by eating them she can ingest some love stored in them. It wasn't rich source of love, and to fulfill hunger she would need eat a dozens of them, but beggars can't be choosers.
Seven, Avoid Friends. When news will reach them about her plans to move out from Sugarcube Corner and resignation she gave Cakes they will probably try to talk with her and change her mind. Pinkie wasn't sure if she could handle this.
Eight, Meet Fluttershy. She offered she'll help tonight again. Pinkie had to escort her to camp and help her a bit.
Nine, Plan Next Steps. Council with Chrysalis, few important changelings and maybe Fluttershy about next steps.
Ten, Sleep. This step didn't need explanation.
During this simple remainder Pinkie reached door of Sugarcube Corner. She sighed, trying to exhale her worries, and went inside with bright smile. It wasn't so hard, she was master of smiling despite her worries. Thankfully, there weren't any customers at this time of morning. Behind the counter was Mrs. Cake who noticed Pinkie. She sighed with relief but there was angry frown too.
"Pinkie! Where have you been? I sent Carrot to search for you!"
Pinkie pouted and looked on her hooves. She knew Mrs Cake will be afraid for her safety and she did what she did anyway. She knew that she had now higher priorities, but still... she wasn't feeling okay with hurting her loved ones.
"I'm sorry... I was with Fluttershy all night." It was truth. Maybe it wasn't full story but it was true enough. Pinkie lifted her head. Mrs. Cake watched Pinkie with confusion and smile after while.
"Pinkie, I understand. But you could say us that you will... spend night with her." Mrs Cake made this pause, trying to get Pinkie reaction. If she will deny this subtext, it will give Mrs Cake confirmation of her theories. If she will ignore it, well, maybe she's just oblivious or she isn't trying to hide it...
"I thought it won't be so long. It just took more time than I thought." Pinkie didn't notice this suggestions as she was more focused on apologizing Mrs Cake.
"Oh?" Mrs. Cake raised brow, awaiting more details.
"Yes, but it was totally worth it! I had great time with Fluttershy." Pinkie gave small grin.
Mrs. Cake coughed. She knew it; as she knew that Twilight Sparkle had something-something with Rainbow Dash, and Applejack have hidden corny romance with Rarity. It was just obvious! Opposites attract, sound and simple.
"And when we were done, It was too late so I had to sleep at Fluttershy place." And then Pinkie noticed Mrs Cake growing blushing. She added two to two, and came to obvious conclusion.
"Mrs. Cake? Eeew..!"
"You don't need to deny it, Pinkie! I'm all supporting you! It doesn't matter that she's a mare! And pegasi!"
And in this moment Mr Cake went in. She saw her wife with her hooves in air and huge smile, and Pinkie back trotting with confused and scared look. For moment he thought that there is something wrong with his eyes. He blinked. Yup, this is Pinkie, and this is Cup; not other way around. He wanted to say something but Cup spotted him.
"Sweetie, guess what?!"
Pinkie interrupted her putting hoof her mouth. It didn't stopped her from talking, or rather trying to.
"Don't listen her!"
Mrs. Cake winced finally noticing hoof in her mouth. Mr. Cake decided that his question is still viable.
"What's going on?"
Pinkie took a huge breath and got her mouth running.
"Mrs. Cake is thinking that Fluttershy is my marefriend, because I spent last night at her cottage, but it's absolutely not true, what I said her, and she overreacted and was telling me that I have nothing to be ashamed of, duh, I know it, I mean, it's okay to be gay, and all, but it's simply that I don't feel anything for Fluttershy, except friendship, but Mrs. Cake have her theory, and..." Pinkie took second breath, and continued. "And I'm sorry for not informing that I will be today, but we had great friend time together, and then it was too dark, and Fluttershy said she'll be afraid for me and she couldn't escort me because it was too dark, so I stayed with her. I'm sorry!"
Mr. Cake had unsure look on his face, when his brain was slowing down Pinkie explanation, and transforming it in more than one sentence. When he finally understood he sighed.
"Pinkie, please, give us a moment." Pinkie frowned, and got closer to Mr Cake.
"Buuut..." Pinkie used cuteness. It wasn't very effective.
"Pinkie, I need to talk with Mrs Cake. Private."
Pinkie frowned and started trotting toward door. Mrs Cake started to babbling about how cute pair is Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who was concerned what will be this "talk" about. But when she was passing by, Mr Cake hissed to her.
"I need to calm her down, that's why I need you to left this room, okay?" he asked her. He sounded honest.
Pinkie just nodded and left Sugarcube Corner, and sat on the stairs before entrance. Outside was calm, typical morning in Ponyville. Bright, warming sun on the lightly clouded sky, light breeze. Ponies wandering in their own paces around, exchanging greetings, small talking on streets... She wanted to sing by just watching that peaceful scene. How a wonderful world... How this pony was named? Hoofstrong Bugler. Yeah, that was song perfect for this moment. But when Pinkie was about to start singing, Mr Cake walked out of Sugarcube Corner and sat by Pinkie side.
"I calmed Mrs Cake. She's... well, romance enthusiast. She read too much of this, and sees couples between everyone."
"I... It's okay. She just overreacted. Mrs. Cake, listen..."
"You are okay. That's most important." He turned to her and smiled. "You are fully grown responsible mare. Filly no more. I said that to Cup yesterday and she was still panicking about you. I even tried to remind her that you and rest of girls took care of Discord and Nightmare Moon. She just told me that we shouldn't let you to go for such dangerous adventures."
"Weren't you afraid like Mrs Cake?"
"Of course I was, but I trust you. You see, you are like daughter to us. It's just that she want you to be safe. But she forgets that you are an adult now, and about to go in wide world of Equestria, maybe even further. She's afraid she'll lose you. Yes, this day will hurt her, but she'll get better. So, what I want to say... You could say that you will be today, but don't worry about it, okay?" Carrot looked with seriousness on his face, but his eyes were kind.
Pinkie nodded. Mr Cake smiled.
"And please, don't forget you can call us Carrot and Cup or... how you called when you were a filly."
"You know, I just can't. It don't feel right and I don't know why..."
"No problem here Pinkie. It was just cute back then. So... We are all right?" Carrot Cake started to rise up.
"Yeah, I think, Carrot." She wanted to rise up, but then she remembered. "No, there is one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to have very little time in next few weeks. I'll need to quit the job."
"We can give you few free days."
"No, It's more... complicated. I just can't have a job."
"Could you explain why? I'm just curious, so you don't have to answer...."
"I... think I'll try to find any trace of my family. I just need to try."
"I understand. I'll probably would do the same thing. Heh, almost did... Are you going to move out?"
"Yes, I think so... thanks for you understanding, Carrot."
"Pinkie, I want just you to be happy. If you need it, you need it." She turned to enter Sugarcube Corner. "Are you coming?"
"Nah, I think I need a moment for myself."
"Alright. Oh, and Pinkie?"
"Yup?"
"Whenever you will want, you can go back to us. We will welcome you with wide open hooves. We won't drive you off. You are our daughter, no matter what."
Small tears appeared in Pinkie eyes, and she jumped and hugged Carrot. It was not only because how great pony Carrot was, he was like father to Pinkie.
Unfortunately it only meant that in few weeks this relationship will be no more. It was the worst thing, and second reason for tears flowing from Pinkie eyes. Realizing how many miracles of her current life will be crushed by her new-old life. Friendships, her "family", her reputation... Everything. On one hoof she felt hurt by that and she wanted that it was just a bad dream. On other hoof, she knew it was small price for saving few hundreds of thousands of changelings. Life of one earth pony for thousands more safe lives... It was obvious what was more important.
Carrot Cake hugged her back.
Still, it hurt this one fake earth pony.
"Thanks, thanks... dad." Pinkie somehow forced that lost word from her mouth, but she felt Mr. Cake deserved that. They broke their hug.
"I think Cup needs me... So... Goodbye, Pinkie." He smiled and trotted inside Sugarcube Corner.
Pinkie wiped her tears, and moved to her next goal.