//------------------------------// // 50. Group Hug // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie stood on a stool in front of the library’s kitchen sink, finishing the last set of dishes and placing them on the counter to dry, breathing a sigh of contentment as she did so and praising herself for not even one time thinking about Fluttershy while she was alone. Wait. Crap, she just did. Pinkie took a deep breath and dried her hands off on a towel, then rubbed the towel on her face because uuuuUUUUURRRRGGGHHH. Not a day had gone by since her trip to the Everfree Forest that she hadn’t thought about Fluttershy, and her thoughts on the spirit bounced back and forth at rapid speed between thinking about how cute and beautiful she was and gosh Pinkie sure hoped that Fluttershy was gonna like her, to thinking about how distant and almost sad Fluttershy felt when Pinkie got to talk to her. But then, what if Pinkie was just projecting her own feelings onto Fluttershy? What if Fluttershy was totally fine with her life in the forest. She said as much herself, didn’t she? Did she? Pinkie couldn’t quite remember every single detail of that day, though she desperately wished that she could. That said, along with every thought of Fluttershy came the haunting chorus of ‘what if Fluttershy didn’t like her’, or ‘what if she was just forcing Fluttershy to do something she really didn’t want to’ or whatever else. It was a lot to take, and it’d been a long three weeks. “Hey Pinkie, do you need help with the—” Spike walked into the kitchen and Pinkie affected a bright smile so he couldn’t see her distress. “Oh, you’re done with them already! I was gonna help you with the dishes.” “It’s okay,” Pinkie giggled, “I got it! Thank you so much though!” “I’m just really impressed you blew through them so fast!” Spike said, taking a seat on a nearby chair. “Eh, I like doing it,” Pinkie shrugged. “So how’re you enjoying the party? I planned it for you and Twilight, cuz I want you to be my friend just as much as her!” “It’s been amazing!” Spike cheered, and Pinkie’s heart swelled with joy and pride. “it’s been like the best day ever! Definitely the best day since we moved to Canterlot!” “Oh, Spike!” Pinkie launched herself at the tiny pegasus and absorbed him into a bear hug. “I’m so glad!” “Honestly, Pinkie, I dunno why you’re so surprised!” Spike said, patting Pinkie’s back. “You put a ton of effort into making everything for this, and it totally shows! You’re a real good friend, I’d say!” “Spiiiike!” Pinkie held Spike’s shoulders and tried to not to gush tears out her face like faucets, but no dice. “Thank you!” Pinkie wailed as she grabbed Spike again and nearly crushed his entire body with another hug. “Darling, try not to hurt the poor dear,” Rarity chuckled as she walked into the kitchen, Pinkie bashfully letting Spike go, but her heart grew three sizes when he hugged her. “Hi, Rarity!” Pinkie greeted Rarity with a wave and a bright smile. “What’re you doing back here?” “Twilight’s about to referee an arm-wrestling match between Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” Rarity laughed very delightedly, “so I wanted to know if either of you wanted to watch Applejack snap Rainbow’s entire arm off like a withered old tree branch?” “I do!” Spike cheered, jumping onto the floor and running for the kitchen door. “I definitely wanna see that!” Rarity and Pinkie watched Spike hurry into the lobby to watch the carnage, but the two mares stayed behind, Pinkie giving a soft smile to Rarity, which Rarity returned with that smile she does when she can tell that something’s bothering the pony she’s smiling at but she’s too polite to say anything. But Pinkie knew she couldn’t hide anything from Rarity for too long. “Pinkie Pie?” “Y-yes?” Pinkie smiled and hoped it looked more genuine than it felt. “Is something the matter?” Yep, there it was. “You seem uncharacteristically pensive this evening. And your party is a smashing success, I would say. I’d think you’d be over the moon for that.” “Oh, I am!” Pinkie said. “I abso-tootly-lootly am! It’s just—” Pinkie bit her lip and twiddled her fingers. “I miss Fluttershy, and I feel like a big silly doofus for missing Fluttershy.” “Oh, sweetie,” Rarity sighed and sat next to Pinkie Pie, Pinkie jumping up onto the counter so Rarity could have the stool, and pressed their foreheads together. “Having a crush can be tough, especially when you feel like you aren’t ‘worthy’ of that pony’s affections—” “How did you know that I—” “Because I know you, sweetheart,” Rarity brushed her hand tenderly through Pinkie’s mane. “I know you have a few issues where it comes to self-esteem, and I met Fluttershy just as you did—” “You think she’s too good for me, right?” Pinkie moped. “No,” Rarity gently chastised, cupping Pinkie’s face and raising it to meet Rarity’s eyes. “But Fluttershy is very unique, and I understand that you’re feeling a little… plain, in comparison. It’s how I felt about Twilight when I first met her.” “But you and Twilight are super duper amazing!” Pinkie said, baffled that Rarity would feel plain next to anypony! “And so are you, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity said, her nose gently touching Pinkie’s, “you just have a hard time seeing it yourself.” “Yeah,” Pinkie grumbled, “I guess you’re right about that.” Pinkie paused, and grit her teeth. She whimpered under her breath and Rarity rubbed her thumb across Pinkie’s cheek. “Everything alright, dear?” “Can I be totally honest with you?” Pinkie asked, too scared to look Rarity in the eye anymore. “Of course.” “And you won’t make fun of me?” “Never.” Pinkie groaned, cuz she still didn’t feel convinced, but it’d be rude not to trust Rarity since she was always so nice and supportive, so Pinkie forced herself to be honest like she said she was gonna. “I’m really glad Twilight and Spike and everypony else is enjoying the party,” Pinkie said, “but there’s this little part of me—this dumb, stupid, really mean part of me—that keeps telling me that if I threw a party like this for me, nopony would come to it.” “I would,” Rarity said without hesitation. “Would you?” Pinkie asked, looking into Rarity’s eyes with eyes that stung with tears. “Abso-tootly-lootly,” Rarity giggled, and Pinkie laughed in return as Rarity placed her forehead against Pinkie’s again. “You’re one of my best friends, and I would never miss a party in your honor. I daresay I would make sure it was the most fabulous party in Equestria’s history, because that’s exactly what a pony like you deserves.” “You’re too much, Rarity,” Pinkie said, pushing Rarity’s face away as her already pink cheeks somehow felt even pinker and cheekier. “And you’re too sweet,” Rarity gave Pinkie a little peck on the cheek, and Pinkie couldn’t stop giggling like a smitten kitten. “You’re far too sweet and kind to deserve to deal with the demons you have, and I’m sorry there isn’t more I can do to help. But you’ll always have my friendship, and I’ll always have your back.” “I think that’s more than enough,” Pinkie said with a delicate smile. It’s more than I deserve, that’s for sure. “Hey, you guys!” Twilight said as she walked into the kitchen. “You two totally missed Applejack practically snapping Rainbow’s entire arm off like a withered old tree branch!” “See? I told you,” Rarity said smugly, Pinkie giggling in response. “Pinkie Pie?” Twilight said concernedly. “Are you crying?” “Huh?” Pinkie wiped a hand across her cheeks, and sure enough her fingers were met with tears she didn’t even realize were there. “Oh yeah, I guess I am.” “What’s wrong?” Twilight asked as she approached Pinkie and Rarity, the latter putting her hand comfortingly on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Is there something I can do?” “No, it’s okay,” Pinkie said calmly. “Sometimes my brain just likes to make me feel sad for no reason. It happens sometimes, been that way my whole life.” Pinkie paused for a second and gave another brief burst of giggles. “But thank you, Twilight. It means a lot that you’d wanna take care of me like that.” “Of course,” Twilight replied immediately, “what are friends for?” “My sentiments exactly,” Rarity said, rubbing Pinkie’s shoulder. “I’m really glad that I have friends like you guys, then,” Pinkie said, reaching her arms out to offer hugs to everypony present, which were happily accepted by both Rarity and Twilight. “Pinkie Pie,” Twilight said, her cheek smushed up against Rarity’s and Pinkie’s as Pinkie tried to hold the two as close to her as possible her with tiny little nubbin hands, “I know that you’re worried about your trip to the Everfree, what did you say, it was next week?” “Yeah.” “But trust me,” Twilight said with a giggle, “if Fluttershy likes you even half as much as I do, the day you go visit her will be the best day of her whole month!” “T-Twilight!” Pinkie grabbed Twilight’s cheeks and started bawling, Twilight wrapping her arms around Pinkie and embracing her in a gentle, and very warm, hug. “That’s so sweet of you to say!” “I mean it, Pinkie,” Twilight said, returning Pinkie’s hug with her own affectionate embrace. Pinkie felt another set of arms wrapping around her and Twilight—Rarity’s, obviously—and then heard hoofsteps coming through the kitchen door. “Hey, are we missing group hug time?” Rainbow said. “Not if you’re quick about it,” Rarity said teasingly. “Uh, nopony is quicker than me, thanks!” Rainbow bolted over to the group and wrapped not only her arms, but her wings too, around them and Pinkie purred with delight. “Don’t think yer leavin’ me outta this,” Applejack scoffed. “Need a lift, Spike?” “Yes please,” Spike said, lifting his little hands into the air as Applejack picked him up, getting him within hugging distance. Pinkie suddenly found herself in the very center of a warm, happy, six-pony group hug, and everything felt okay in her world. She just hoped she’d be able to give Fluttershy that same feeling. But no matter what, she felt safe and happy knowing that she had this feeling to come home to.