//------------------------------// // Remembrance // Story: The Remaining Five // by ABagOVicodin //------------------------------// The Cakes took a few moments to gather their composure, and although they were able to get rid of the blockage in their throat, nothing was stopping their eyes from their constant watering. Mrs. Cake's eyes shifted to the funeral cake that was provided for the guests, and her gaze remained on the figurine at the top of the cake. Pumpkin Cake followed her mom's gaze, and her small horn started to glow. The figurine levitated in the air and moved over to the filly, until it was placed in her hoof. Her mother would have taken it away if she stuck it in her mouth, and she wanted to keep the figurine. She licked off the small amount of cake that was on the bottom, and she giggled while the Cakes started to speak. Mr. Cake started. “Pinkie Pie was a mare that helped us more then anypony else in our life. Even though my wife and I provided her with a place to stay, I always felt that it wasn't enough for her. We wanted to pay her more for her help on our catering orders, but we simply did not have the money to do so. We had to save our money, since we were planning on having children of our own. We remember her exact words,” Mr. Cake said. Mrs. Cake dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief that she brought with her, and she continued where her husband left off. “I don't need to be paid at all! I know that every single one of these cupcakes and muffins are bringing a smile to someone's face. That is my payment.” Mrs. Cake exclaimed, a small smile on her face from remembrance. “We told her that our house was her house, and she could stay here as long as she wanted. She never left. Day after day, she would tell us how happy she was that she was living with us, and before she would help Ponyville, she always asked us if we needed help with our orders. We only asked for her help if we were behind on the speed we needed to complete our order, but Pinkie helped us anyway. On the many days where we had to split up our catering orders, Pinkie started to sneak peeks at the order list.” Mrs. Cake wiped another tear, smiling and letting out a small laugh. “She would wake up early, and bring out the first order we planned to finish, and start to work. She didn't ask for payment, probably because my husband and I were smiling when we came down to see her work. As she said before, that was all she wanted.” “When the twins were born, we were hesitant with allowing Pinkie to babysit for us. We were afraid that she would be too excited about the children to handle the responsibilities of taking care of two. We were completely wrong. Although we noticed that we were missing several bags of flour, when we gave her a chance to babysit, she was perfect for the job. That only made her more helpful, and us more guilty since we couldn't pay her more for her help. She was the perfect mother.” Mrs. Cake said. She looked down and then muttered to herself, “A better mother then I could ever be.” Mr. Cake continued, as he noticed his wife was having a harder time keeping her composure. He looked down to Pinkie's parents, and he smiled as he turned to face them. “You raised a wonderful daughter, she was already smiling and helping others when she came to Ponyville. That shows that whatever you taught her, it stuck with her and she became the reason we smiled, the reason Ponyville smiled.” He said. Pinkie's parents and two sisters nodded their heads, a smile on their face as they remembered the first party thrown for them. Mr. Cake continued, “Pinkie Pie will always be remembered, how could you not? When she touched the life of everyone in Ponyville. We love you Pinkie Pie, we will never forget you. Thank you.” The four moved away from the podium, figurine still placed in Pumpkin Cake's hand as they took their seats. Pinkie's parents were the next ones to stand up, and they moved over to the podium. No pony, including Twilight Sparkle had seen Pinkie's parents before. The only ones who had a slight recollection of them were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, when Pinkie explained what her parents looked like. Princess Celestia was the first one to send them a letter, informing them of Pinkie's death. Pinkie's father could distinctly remember the smell of a Ponyville letter, so when this scroll was sent to him with a different scent, something did not feel right. He never got mail, so when a scroll from Canterlot had appeared in their mailbox, he unrolled it and read it to himself. The news of his daughter's death had the whole family crying for five days, and traveling for the other two to reach the funeral. Although their communication with Pinkie was cut off, she was still their daughter. Pinkie's father stood up, staring down at the many ponies before him. Every single one of them were unknown to him, although knowing Pinkie, all of them probably knew her. He coughed a few times, as he took off his hat in respect. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, was a different daughter than we thought she would be. She was a different color from all of us, her attitude was different, even before her hair became curly, and she was the first one to show us exactly what we should be doing: smile. Pinkie's first party that she threw for us was something completely unheard of in our city. We only use what we need to use for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Other additional things for events were practically laughed at in my city. But when Pinkie brought us to her party, we couldn't help but smile as we drank punch and ate cake.” “Pinkie was different. But that did not mean that she was unwanted. We loved our daughter, and as much as we wanted her to stay on the rock farm with us, we understood when she told us that she was moving to Ponyville. Her whole life, just like ours, was circular. It was boring, and while my other daughters, my wife, and I were used to it, Pinkie didn't have to be. We wanted her to do what made her happy, although if she had stayed with us, she probably wouldn't have died.” the father said. Many ponies in the crowd shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, the elephant in the room being addressed. The sisters behind Pinkie's father poked him in the back a few times, and shook their head to show that Father was treading on thin ice. Rainbow Dash's teeth were clenching together, while Applejack stood up, unable to contain herself. “Excuse me Sir.” she said, as the apple bucker and the father glared at each other. “Speaking from personal experience, I am pretty sure that I would rather do what is fun and live a shorter life, than a boring and sad task and live longer.” Twilight Sparkle felt uncomfortable, and she levitated Applejack's hat over her face, before whispering to her. “Please Applejack, calm down. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.” She said, and Applejack clenched her teeth before nodding her head. Twilight then turned to the father, allowing him to continue if he talked appropriately. The father continued, breaking his glare with Applejack, “We are sorry that she has passed away, because we are sure that Pinkamena had spread more happiness then we ever could, it was her destiny in life. Ours is consistent, and forgettable. Thank you for inviting us to our daughter's funeral.” He finished, and he motioned for his wife and daughters to exit. The four of them moved off of the podium, and walked back over to their seats, the father covering his face with his hat. The sisters embraced each other and cried, while the mother was soaking her own handkerchief with tears. Cranky Doodle Donkey was the next to stand up, and he slowly moved over to the podium, letting out a small grunt of exhaustion when he finally managed to hoist himself onto his front hooves. “I'm Cranky Doodle Donkey. Many of you don't know me, because I don't go outside my house that much.” he said. It was true, Matilda was usually the one who did the grocery shopping, and since Cranky Doodle did not have anything else to do, he had enough money to live out with Matilda for the rest of his days. “I was one of the last friends that Pinkie Pie had made. She... was the weirdest pony that I have ever met, and I traveled through all of Equestria. I never met someone like her. She was energetic, random, but you are all right, she was also generous. The first gift that she gave me was this,” he said, as he placed his hand onto the blonde toupee that perched atop his head. “Pinkie spent that whole day trying to make me happy, even though I told her many times to stay away from me. It was probably rude of her, to keep bugging me, but if she didn't persist, then I wouldn't have met the one donkey that I fell in love with at the Grand Galloping Gala.” Cranky smiled lightly, and a few tears seeped out of his eyes while he took a pause so that he could gather his thoughts. “Pinkie Pie brought Matilda to me, the donkey that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and then didn't mind when I said that I wanted to live the rest of my life in peace and quiet. Which didn't include her.” Princess Celestia smiled lightly, remembering the letter that Pinkie sent to her, considering Cranky Doodle. This was the one Pinkie was talking about. Cranky continued, “She was one of my best friends, no one had ever done something so nice for me before. Thank you Pinkie, I will never forget what you have done for me, I can't. You found me my love.” he said, and then he moved down from the podium. He sat back down on his chair, and the Princesses exchanged glances, thinking if it would be a good time for them to share what they had to say. However Applebloom was the next to stand up, followed by Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The three Crusaders walked over to the podium, and upon realizing that they wouldn't be able to be seen or heard, Scootaloo motioned for the others to stand up on her, and create themselves if they were taller. It was adorable, watching Sweetie Belle stand up on Scootaloo's back, and Applebloom slowly climb up the two fillies until she was the one able to be seen. “Thank you.” Applebloom said, smiling as she placed her hooves on the podium. “Pinkie Pie made me smile more then anyone else in the city. As a blank flank... you tend to be a loner, especially when the only friends that you have are other blank flanks. Pinkie helped us try to get our cutie marks countless times, probably because the smile that we would get when we do feel them on our flanks would be unforgettable. Pinkie, we will always think of you, thank you for all that you have done.” Applebloom then moved off of Sweetie Belle, and helped the white filly up onto her back. Scootaloo's face was starting to turn red as the shifting had caused her to almost drop the other two, but she was able to hold herself up for now. Sweetie Belle allowed tears to go down her face as she began to speak. Visible on her flank, was a smiling face emitting two musical notes. However the other two crusaders, did not acquire their cutie marks. Sweetie Belle smiled softly as she looked at the crowd, noticing that everypony that took part in the Smile Song was currently sitting down. “If you don't mind... I would love if we could all sing Pinkie's song. The one that brought all of us together, because I want it to do the same for today.” Sweetie Belle cleared her throat again, before she smiled lightly, tears falling down her face as the crowd sang with her. “My name is Pinkie Pie (hello), And I am here to say (how ya doin'), I'm gonna make you smile, and I will brighten up your day! It doesn't matter now (what's up?), if you are sad or blue (Howdy), 'Cause cheering up my friends is just what Pinkie's here to do! 'Cause I love to make you smile, smile, smile, yes I do. It fills my heart with sunshine all the while, yes it does. 'Cause all I really need's a smile, smile, smile, from these happy friends of mine. I like to see you grin (awesome)! I love to see you beam (rock on)! The corners of your mouth turned up, is always Pinkie's dream. But if you're kind of worried, and your face has made a frown. I'll work real hard and do my best, to turn that sad frown upside down. 'Cause I love to make you grin, grin, grin, yes I do. Bust it out from ear to ear, let it begin. Just give me a joyful grin, grin, grin, and you fill me with good cheer. It's true, some days are dark and lonely. And maybe you feel sad, but Pinkie will be there to show you that it isn't that bad. There's one thing that makes me happy, and makes my whole life worthwhile. And that's when I talk to my friends and get them to smile. I really am so happy. Your smile fills me with glee. I give a smile, I get a smile, and that's so special to me. 'Cause I love to see you beam, beam, beam, yes I do. Tell me, what more can I say to make you see, that I do. It makes me happy when you beam, beam, beam, yes, it always makes my day!Come on everypony smile, smile, smile, fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine. All I really need's a smile, smile, smile, from these happy friends of mine! Come on everypony smile, smile, smile, fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine, all I really need's a smile, smile, smile. From these happy friends of mine!” At this point, Sweetie Belle sang Pinkie's verse while the crowd sang the chorus' lines. “Yes a perfect gift for me (Come on everypony smile, smile, smile). Is a smile as wide as a mile (Fill my heart up with sunshine, sunshine). To make me happy as can be (All I really need's a smile, smile, smile; from these happy friends of mine). Smile, smile, smile, smile, smile! Come on and smile! Come on and smile!” Every member of the crowd was smiling, standing up while tears leaked down their cheeks. No pony cared about their clothes or their image. Many of the mares in the crowd were ruining their make up with their tears, while other colts, who usually never shed a tear in their life, were openly crying over the remembrance of Pinkie. Sweetie Belle smiled lightly, allowing one more of her tears to fall onto the puddle in the podium, before she bowed her head. “Thank you Ponyville.” she said, as she stepped down, and all three Crusaders moved back to their seats. Princess Celestia stood up, and walked out of the crowd of chairs as everyone sat back down. The song was over and the high of happiness that followed with the song slowly dissipated. She ascended the steps to the podium, and looked down at her subjects, a light smile on her face to show that she wasn't punishing anyone. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, and then placed her front hooves back on the wooden floor. “Thank you for all coming here today. It means a lot to everyone sitting down on a chair, that we come together as a group and mourn the passing of everyone's friend, including mine, Pinkie Pie.” Princess Celestia turned to Twilight Sparkle, and the student stiffened in her chair, until the Princess spoke. “Twilight Sparkle, whenever I read the letters that you sent back to me on Pinkie Pie, or the letters that Pinkie Pie had herself sent me, I had grown jealous over the friends that you had acquired. Pinkie Pie's parties were fun, when I was able to attend them. Unfortunately with royal duty, I wasn't able to attend them that often. Pinkie Pie was the best friend that anyone could ask for, and she exhibited her Element of Harmony until her passing. Nothing made me laugh more then a Pinkie joke, or one of her pranks. I, Princess Celestia, thank you for your friendship.” The white alicorn moved down from the podium, the entire crowd silent after Celestia admitted to jealousy, depression, and regret. Even royalty could feel these things apparently. Twilight moved off of her chair, stumbling over her hooves. Her eyes were spaced out, as if the magnitude of her loss still did not hit her. Probably because she never wanted it to hit her in the first place. She moved over to the podium, placed her front hooves on it to pull herself up, and then looked at the crowd. “I would like to take this time to give a moment of silence to Pinkie, and all of the things that she has done for Ponyville, for us. Please think about the most important thing that Pinkie has ever done for you, think about the specifics, and what you learned or what Pinkie did to help you, or bring that smile to your face.” The whole crowd lowered their heads and closed their eyes, as memories were reflected in everypony's mind.