“Mom!” Pinkie squealed, jumping into her mom’s arms as soon as Cloudy Quartz opened the door to her inn room. And what a room it was too! So spacious and cozy, definitely not like the farm back home at all!
“It’s good to see you too, dear,” Cloudy chuckled and invited Pinkie in, though she had to practically tear herself away from Pinkie’s hug. “It’s been too long.”
“Right? It so has!” Pinkie sighed, jumping onto a comfy plush chair while her mom sat on the edge of the bed, hazelnut coffee already sitting on the wee table beside the chair, piping hot and ready for Pinkie to drink. “But I’ve been having so much fun with Applejack and my friends, and I gotta tell you about every— OH WAIT! I just remembered! Me and Applejack are dating now! Isn’t that cool!?”
“That’s fantastic, sweetheart,” Cloudy said with a soft smile. Her emotions were always really understated, but Pinkie could tell she was super-duper happy. “I always knew you two would become an item eventually.”
“You did?” Pinkie asked between sips of coffee, getting a little coffee mustache to boot.
“Oh, sure,” Cloudy chuckled. “Your sisters always used to joke about how everyone could see that you two were in love, except for you two. So I’m glad to hear you finally tied the knot, as it were.”
“Hehe, I guess,” Pinkie blushed and laughed awkwardly. Was it really that obvious to everyone else? “So hey, speaking of romance, how’re things with your rich girlfriend? When do I get to meet her? Are you excited to go to the Gala? HUH? HUH?? HUH???”
“Well, I am excited,” Cloudy blushed and pushed up her glasses, and Pinkie tried not to be too giddy about how happy her mom looked, but it was tough! Cloudy had been through a lot, and Pinkie was really happy that she had something to be so over the moon about, so to speak. “But I’d prefer not to say too much. I suppose I’m still worried about the other shoe dropping, I guess.”
“Okay, I won’t pry,” Pinkie huffed and puffed up her cheeks, swishing her coffee around in front of her. “But I promise you not a single shoe is gonna drop! Your gf is way into you, you’re gonna have a fantabulous time at the Gala, everything’s gonna be great! So don’t worry so much!”
“I try not to,” Cloudy laughed softly, in that really sweet way that a mom laughs, y’know?? “Though to be perfectly honest, if there is one thing I’m worried about, it’s you.”
“Me?” Pinkie pointed at herself, confuzzled by what could possibly have her mom worried about her.
“Yes, you. I heard you were in Bitsburgh recently,” oh yeah, that would be it, wouldn’t it, “when that dragon attacked. Or those dragons? I’m not really sure.”
“Yeah, it was—”
Wait, stop. How much could Pinkie safely divulge here? If it were just about her, Pinkie would want to tell her mom everything; her mom always understood her, even if she didn’t, like, understand her.
But it wouldn’t be right to risk Fluttershy or Applejack or any of the others’ secrets.
“You don’t have to worry about me, mom,” Pinkie smiled to hide the pain of having to lie to her mom. “I’m not planning on getting into anything dangerous anytime soon.”
“You can’t let anything happen to you before you can take the Slayers’ license exam, right?” Cloudy said, sending a chill down Pinkie’s spine.
That was what Pinkie wanted, wasn’t it? More than anything, but now…
“Did you see it?” Cloudy asked.
“See it?” Pinkie repeated, sweat dripping off her forehead. “See what? The dragon?”
“That’s right,” Cloudy nodded. “I was hoping you might have seen it, and let that encounter change your mind about becoming a Slayer. It’s hideous work, you know. You were born to be so much more than a butcher.”
“I’m not afraid of dragons,” Pinkie said firmly, and though she didn’t mean for that to slip out, she was gonna stand by it regardless. “I’m not afraid of dragons, mom.”
“Neither am I, Pinkie Pie,” Cloudy said calmly, and Pinkie’s heart thundered in her heart joints as she wondered what that meant.
“No, mom,” Pinkie took a deep breath. “I mean, I don’t think dragons are our enemy. I think ponies have been being lied to this whole time.”
“Yes, dear,” Cloudy nodded and looked straight at Pinkie, the soft smile on her face looking almost surreal with the torrent of anxiety twisting Pinkie up inside. “I know what you meant. And I meant to say that I agree.”
“Y-you do?” Pinkie blinked confusedly.
“I do,” Cloudy took in a deep breath and sighed, before smiling at Pinkie. “I have… a lot I need to tell you about.”